V 


->  ,~\ 


tf 


H 0 


VINDICATION 


OF  THE 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN, 


WITH 


STRICTURES 


ON 


POLITICAL  AND  MORAL  SUBJECTS, 


BY  MARY  WOLLSTONECRAFT, 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

PRINTED    FOR    M  A  T  H  E  W    CAREY, 
NO.    I  I  8,    MARKET  -  STREET, 

1794. 


\ 


C  O  N  *f  E   N  f  S. 


K- 

• 


j-  '  PAGE 

INTRODUCTION  -  10 

Chap.  I.      The  rights  and  involved  duties  of  mankind 

considered  -  19 

Chap.  II.      The  prevailing  opinion  of  a  fexual  ch a- 

r after  difcu/ed  3 1 

Chap.  III.      The  fame  fubj eft  continued  -      63 

Chap.  IV.      Qbfervations  on  the  ft  ate  of  degradation 

to  which  ewoman  is   reduced  by  various  canfes       87 

Chap.  V.  Animadverfions  on  fome  of  the  writers 
who  have  rendered  women  o&jetfs  of  pity,  bor 
dering  on  contempt  -  -  -  132 

Chap.  VI.      The  ejfett  which  an  early  ajjbciation  of 

ideas  has  upon  the  character  197 

Chap.   VII.      Modefty. — Comprehenfively     confideredy 

and  not  as  a  fexual  virtue  207 

Chap.   VIII.      Morality  undermined  by  fexual  notions 

of  the  importance  of  a  good  reputation  224 

Chap.  IX.      Of  the  pernicious  ejfefls  which  arife  from 

the  unnatural  diftintiions  eftablijhed  in  fociety        240 

Chap.   X.      Parental  affedion  -  257 

Chap.  XL      Duty  to  parents  261 

Chap.   XII.      On  national  education  -  -        269 

Chap.  XIII.  Some  inftances  of  the  folly  which  the 
ignorance  of  women  generates  y  with  concluding 
reflections  on  the  moral  improvement  that  a  revo 
lution  in  female  manners  may  naturally  be  ex- 
peclcd  to  produce  -  -307 


M508364 


T   O 


M.  TALLEYRAND-PERIGORD, 


LATE  BISHOP  OF  AUTUN. 


AVING  read  with  great  pleafure  a  pamphlet,  which 
you  have  lately  publifhed,  on  National  Education,  I  de- 
dicate  this  volume  to  you — the  firfl  dedication  that  I 
have  ever  written,  to  induce  you  to  read  it  with  atten 
tion  ;  and,  becaufe  I  think  that  you  will  understand  me, 
which  I  do  not  fuppofe  many  pert  witlings  will,  who 
may  ridicule  the  arguments  they  are  unable  to  anfwer. 
But,  Sir,  I  carry  my  refpeft  for  your  underilanding  frill 
farther;  fo  far,  that  I  am  confident  you  will  not  throw 
my  work  afide,  and  hailily  conclude  that  I  am  in 
wrong,  beeaufe  you  did  not  view  the  fubjecl  in  the. fame 
light  yourfelf. — And  pardon  my  frankncfs,  but  I  mu£ 
obferve,  that  you  treated  it  in  too  curfory  a  manner,  con 
tented  to  confider  it  as  it  had  been  confidered  formerly, 
when  the  rights  of  man,  not  to  advert  to  woman,  were 
trampled  on  as  chimerical — I  call  upon  you,  therefore, 

B 


IV  DEDICATION. 

now  to  weigh  what  I  have  advanced  refpeding  the  rrghts 
of  woman,  and  national  education — and  I  call  with  the 
firm  tone  of  humanity. — For  my  arguments,  Sir,  are 
diclated  by  a  difmterefted  fpiric — I  plead  for  my  fex — 
not  for  myfeif.  Independence  I  have  long  confidered  as 
the  grand  bleffing  of  life,  the  bafis  of  every  virtue — and 
independence  t  will  ever  fecure  by  contracting  my  w^nts, 
though  I  were  to  live  on  a  barren  heath. 

It  is  then  an  affection  for  the  whole  human  race  that 
makes  my  pen  dart  rapidly  along  to  fupport  what  I  be 
lieve  to  be  the  caufe  of  virtue :  and  the  fame  motive  leads 
me  earneflly  to  wiih  to  fee  woman  placed  in  a  flation  in 
which  ihe  would  advance,  inftead  of  retarding,  the  pro- 
grefs  of  thofe  glorious  principles  that  give  a  fubftance 
to  morality.  My  opinion,  indeed,  reflecting  the  rights 
and  duties  of  woman,  fcems  to  flow  fo  naturally  from 
thefe  fimple  principles,  that  I  think  it  fcarcely  poffible, 
but  that  fonie  of  the  enlarged  minds  who  formed  your 
admirable  conilitution,  will  coincide  with  me. 

in  Fr;ince,  there  is  undoubtedly  a  more  general  dif- 
funon  of  knowledge  than  Li  any  part  of  the  European 
world,  and  I  attribute  it,  in  a  great  meafure,  to  the  fo- 
cial  intercom  fe  which  has  long  fubfifted  between  the 
fexes.  It  is  true,  I  utter  my  fentiments  with  freedom, 
th-.-.t  in  Frpr  ry  eilence  of  icnliLili  y  has  been  e;;- 

e  : -he  voluptuary,  and  a  kind  of  fentimenu.1 
luft  h:  ed,  which,  together  with  the  fyitem  of 

duplicity  that  the  whole  tenor  of  their  political  and 
civil  government  taught,  have  given  a  finiftcr  fort  of  ia- 
gacily  to  the  French  character,  properly  termed  fincifr. 


DEDICATION.  V 

and  a.  polim  of  manners  that  injures  the  fubftance,  by 
hunting  fincerity  oat  of  fockty.  And,  mode-icy,  the 
£..i reft  garb  of  virtue  !  has  been  more  grofsiy  hifaltedijl 
France  than  even  in  England,  till  their  women  iuve 
treated  2&prudijh  th.it  attention  to  decency,  which  brutes 
inilinctively  obferve. 

Manners  and  morals  are  fo  nearly  allied,  that  they  have 
often  been  confounded ;  but,  though  the  former  mould 
only  be  the  natural  -reflection  of  the  latter,  yet3  when 
various  caufes  have  produced  factitious  and  corrupt  man 
ners,  which  are  very  early  caught,  morality  becomes  an 
empty  name.  The  perfonal  referve,  and  facred  ref '-eft 
for  cleanlinefs  and  delicacy  in  domeilic  life,  which 
French  women  almoft  defpife,  are  the  graceful  pillar: 
modefly  ;  but,  far  from  defpifmg  them,  if  the  pure  •! 
of  patriotifm  have  reached  their  bofoms,  they  ihould 
labour  to  improve  the  morals  of  their  fellow-citizens, 
by  teaching  men,  not  only  to  refpecl  modefly  in  women  > 
but  to  acquire  it  themielves,  as  the  only  way  to  merit 
their  eiteem. 

Contending  for  the  rights  of  woman,  my  main  argu 
ment  is  built  on  this  fimple  principle,  that  if  fne  be  not 
prepared  by  education  to  become  the  companion  of  man, 
me  will  flop  the  progrefs  of  knowledge,  for  truth  rnuil 
be  common  to  all,  or  it  will  be  inefficacious  with  refpecl 
to  its  influence  on  general  practice.  And  how  can  wo 
man  be  expected  to  co-operate,  unlefs  me  know  why 
ihe  ought  to  be  virtuous?  unlefs  freedom  ftrengthen  her 
reafon  till  {lie  comprehend  her  duty,  and  fee  in  whit 
manner  it  is  connected  with  her  real  good  ?  If  cliildren 
B  2 


VI  DEDICATION. 

are  to  be  educated  to  underiland  the  true  principle  of 
patriotism,  their  mother  muft  be  a  patriot ;  and  the  love 
of  mankind,  from  which  an  _  orderly  train  of  virtues 
fpring,  can  only  be  produced  by  confidering  the  moral 
and  civil  interefl  of  mankind ;  but  the  education  and 
fltuation  of  woman,  at  prefent,  fliuts  her  out  from  fuch 
inveitigations. 

In  this  work  I  have  produced  many  arguments,  which 
to  me  were  conclufive,  to  prove,  that  the  prevailing  no 
tion  refpecting  a  fexual  character  was  fubverfive  of  mo 
rality,  and  I  have  contended,  that  to  render  the  human 
body  and  mind  more  perfect,  chaltity  muft  more  univer- 
fally  prevail,  and  that  chalUty  will  never  be  refpecled 
in  the  male  world  till  the  perfon  of  a  woman  is  not,  as 
it  were,  idolized  when  little  virtue  or  fenfe  embellifh  it 
with  the  grand  traces  of  mental  beauty,  or  the  intereil- 
ing  firnplicity  of  affection. 

Confider,  Sir,  difpaffionately,  thefe  obfervations — for 
a  glimpfe  of  this  truth  feemed  to  open  before  you  when 
you  obierved,  '  that  to  fee  one  half  of  the  human  race 
'  excluded  by  the  other  from  all  participation  of  go- 
'  vcrnment,  was  a  political  phoenomenon  that,  accord- 
s  ing  to  abftracl  principles,  it  was  impoffible  to  explain.' 
If  fo,  on  what  does  your  conftitution  reft  ?  If  the  abilrael 
rights  of  man  will  bear  difcuffion  and  explanation,  thofe 
of  women,  by  a  parity  of  reafoning,  will  not  {brink  from 
the  fame  teft :  though  a  different  opinion  prevails  in  this 
country,  built  on  the  very  arguments  which  you  ufe  to 
juicify  the  oppreffion  of  woman — prefcription. 

Confider,  I  addrefs  you  as  a  legiihtor,  whether,  when 


DEDICATION.  VH 

men  contend  for  their  freedom,  and  to  be  allowed  to 
judge  for  themfelves,  refpecting  their  own  happinefs,  it 
be  not  inconiiftent  and  unjuft  to  fubjugate  women,  even 
though  you  firmly  believe  that  you  are  ading  in  the 
manner  beft  calculated  to  promote  their  happinefs  ? 
Who  made  man  the  exclusive  judge,  if  woman  partake 
with  him  the  gift  of  reafbn  ? 

In  this  ilyle,  argue  tyrants  of  every  denomination, 
from  the  weak  king  to  the  weak  father  of  a  family  ;  they 
are  all  eager  to  crufh  reafon  ;  yet  always  aiTert  that  they 
ufurp  its  throne  only  to  be  ufeful.  Do  you  not  act  a 
fimilar  part,  when  you  force  all  women,  by  denying  them 
civil  and  political  rights,  to  remain  immured  in  their 
families  groping  in  the  dark?  for  furely,  Sir,  you  will 
not  affert,  that  a  duty  can  be  binding  which  is  not 
founded  on  reafon?  If,  indeed,  this  be  their  deilination, 
arguments  may  be  drawn  from  reaibn  :  and  thus  auguiK 
ly  fupported,  the  more  undei  Handing  women  acquire, 
the  more  they  will  be  attached  to  their  duty — compre 
hending  it—for,  unlei's  they  comprehend  it,  uniefs  their 
morals  be  hxed  on  the  fame  immutable  principles  as 
thofe  of  man,  no  authority  c^n  make  chc.'R  cLfciiarge  it 
in  a  virtuous  manner.  They  muy  b~-  convenient  ikves, 
but  iUvery  will  h.,ve  its  conitant  eifc-cl,  degrading  tae 
mailer  ^ni  me  abjecl  dependent. 

But,  if  women  are  to  be  excluded  without  having  a 
voice,  from  a  participation  of  tae  natural  rights  of  man- 
kmd.,  prove  firft,  to  wurd  off  the  ch  irge  of  injuftice  and 
inconfiftency,  that  they  want  region — :i.e  this  fltw  in 
your  N£W  CONSTITUTION,  tiie  firft  conilitution 


Vlll  DEDICATION. 

founded  on  reafon,  will  ever  £hew  that  man  muft,  In 
fome  ihape,  acl  like  a  tyrant,  and  tyranny,  in  whatever 
part  of  fociety  it  rears  its  brazen  front,  will  ever  under 
mine  morality. 

I  have  repeatedly  afTerted,  and  produced  what  appear 
ed  to  me  irrefragable  arguments  drawn  fi  om  matters  of 
fad,  to  prove  my  afiertion,  that  women  cannot,  by  force, 
b?  confmed  to  domelHc  concerns  ;  for  they  will,  how 
ever  ignorr.nt,  intermeddle  with  more  weighty  affairs, 
neglecting  private  duties  only  to  diilurb,  by  cunning 
tricks,  the  orderly  plans  of  reafon  which  rife  above  their 
comprehenfion. 

Befides,  whilft  they  are  only  made  to  acquire  perfonal 
accomplishments,  men  will  feek  for  pleafure  in  variety, 
and  faithlefs  hulbanas  will  make  faithlefs  wives ;  fuch 
ignorant  beings,  indeed,  will  be  very  excufable  when, 
not  taught  to  refpecl  public  good,  nor  allowed  any  civil 
rights,  they  attempt  to  do  themfelves  juftice  by  reta 
liation. 

The  box  of  mifchief  th-us  opened  in  fociety,  what  is 
to  preferve  private  virtue,  the  only  fecurity  of  public 
freedom  and  universal  happinefs  ? 

Let  there  be  then  no  coercion  ejlablijbed  in  fociety, 
and  tlie  common  law  of  gravity  prevailing,  the  fexes 
will  fall  into  their  proper  places.  And,  now  that  more, 
equit'tble  laws  ^re  forming  your  citizens,  marriage  may 
become  more  facred  ;  your  young  men  may  choofe  wives 
from  motives  of  affe&ion,  and  your  maidens  allow  love; 
to  roo1  out  vanity. 

The  father  of  a  family  will,  not  then  weaken  his  con- 


DEDICATION.  IX 

ftitution  and  debafe  his  fentiments,  by  vifiting  the  har 
lot,  nor  forget,  in  obeying  the  call  of  appetite,  the  pur- 
pofe  for  which  it  was  implanted.  And,  the  mother 
•will  not  negle£l  her  children  to  praclife  the  arts  of  co. 
quetry,  when  fenfe  and  modefty  fecure  her  the  friendfhip 
of  her  hulband. 

But,  till  men  become  attentive  to  the  duty  of  a  father, 
it  is  vain  to  expecl  women  to  fpend  that  time  in  their 
murfery,  which  they,  '•  wife  in  their  generation,'  clioofe 
to  fpend  at  their  glafs ;  for  this  exertion  of  cunning  is 
only  an  inftinft  of  nature  to  enable  them  to  obtain  indi 
rectly  a  little  of  that  power,  of  which  they  are  unjuftly 
denied  a  mare :  for,  if  women  are  not  permitted  to  en 
joy  legitimate  rights,  they  will  render  both  men  and 
themfelve.s  vicious,  to  obtain  illicit  privileges. 

I  wifh,  Sir,  to  fet  fome  inveftigations  of  this  kind 
afloat  in  France ;  and  mould  they  lead  to  a  confirmation 
of  my  principles,  when  your  conilitution  is  revifed,  the 
Rights  of  Woman  may  be  refpe&ed,  if  it  be  fully  proved 
that  reafon  calls  for  this  refpeft,  and  loudly  demand 
JUSTICE  for  one,  half  of  the  human  race. 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your's  refpeftfully, 

M.  W, 


INTRODUCTION. 


XTLFTER  confidering  the  hifloric  page,  and  viewing 
the  living  world  with  anxious  folicitude,  the  moft  me 
lancholy  emotions  of  ibrrovvful  indignation  have  de- 
preiicd  my  fpirks,  and  I  have  lighed  when  obliged 
to  confefs,  that  either  nature  has  made  a  great  dif 
ference  between  man  and  man,  or  that  the  civilization, 
which  ha,s  hitherto  taken  place  in  the  world,  has  been 
very  partial.  I  have  turned  over  various  book5  writ 
ten  on  the  iubjecl  of  education,  and  patiently  obferved 
the  conduct  of  parents  and  the  management  of  fchools ; 
but  vviiat  has  been  the  refult  r — a  profound  conviction, 
tliat  tiie  neglected  education  of  rny  fellow- creatures  is 
the  grand  lource  of  the  miiery  I  deplore  ;  and  that 
women  in  particular,  are  rendered  weak  and  wretched 
by  a  variety  of  concurring  caufes,  originating  from  one 
haity  conclufion.  The  conducl  and  manners  of  women, 
in  facl,  evidently  prove,  that  their  minds  are  not  in  a 
healthy  Hate ;  for,  like  the  flowers  that  are  planted  in 
too  rich  a  foil,  frrength  and  uiefulnefs  are  facrificed  to 
beauty  ;  and  the  flaundng  leaves,  after  having  pleafed 
a  faftidious  eye,  fade,  difregarded  on  the  ftalk,  long  be 
fore  .the  feafon  when  they  oughjt  to  have  arrived  at  ma- 


INTRODUCTION.  XI 

turity.  One  caafe  of  this  barren  blooming  I  attribute 
to  a  falfe  fyflem  of  edutdtion,  gathered  from  the  books 
written  on  this  fubjecl:  by  men,  .who,  considering  females 
rather  as  women  than  human  creatures,  have  been  more- 
anxious  to  make  them  alluring  miftrefTes  than  rational 
wives ;  and  the  underftanding  of  the  fex  has  been  fa 
bubbled  by  this  fpecious  homage,  that  the  civilized 
women  of  the  prefent  century,  with  a  few  exceptions, 
are  only  anxious  to  infpire  love,  when  they  ought  to 
cherifh  a  nobler  ambition,  and  by  their  abilities  an  1 
virtues  exa£l  refpeft. 

In  a  treatife,  therefore,  on  female  rights  and  manners, 
the  works  which  have  been  particularly  written  for  their 
improvement  muil  not  be  overlooked  ;  efpecially  when 
it  is  afierted,  in  dired  terms,  that  the  minds  of  women 
are  enfeebled  by  falfe  refinement ;  that  the  books  of  in- 
ftrucTion,  written  by  men  of  genius,  have  had  the  fame 
tendency  as  more  frivolous  productions  ;  and  that,  in 
the  true  ftyle  of  Mahometanifm,  they  are  only  confidered 
as  females,  and  not  as  a  part  of  the  human  fpecies,  when 
improvable  reafon  is  allowed  to  be  the  dignified  dif- 
tinclion,  which  raifes  men  above  the  brute  creation,  and 
puts  a  natural  fceptre  in  a  feeble  hand. 

Yet,  becaufe  I  am  a  woman,  I  would  not  lead  my 
readers  to  fuppofe,  that  I  mean  violently  to  agitate  the 
contefled  queftion  refpefting  the  equality  and  inferiority 
of  the  fex ;  but  as  the  fubjecl:  lies  in  my  way,  and  I 
cannot  pafs  it  over  without  fubjecling  the  main  ten 
dency  of  my  reafoning  to  mifconftruclipn,  I  mail  ftop  a 
moment  to  deliver,  in  a  few  words,  my  opinion. — la 


Xll  INTRODUCTION. 

the  government  of  the  phylical  world,  it  is  obfcrvab!e 
thut  the  fe-n.iie,  ia  gener.ii,  is  inferior  to  the  nv.le. 
The  male  pjrfues,  the  female  yields — :his  is  the  law  of 
nature ;  and  it  does  not  appear  to  be  fufpenJed  or  abro 
gated  in  favour  of  woman.  This  physical  iupcriority 
ci  nnot  be  denied — and  it  is  a  noble  prerogative  !  But 
not  content  with  this  natural  pre-eminence,  men  endea 
vour  to  fink  us  ftill  lower,  merely  to  render  us  alluring 
objects  for  a  moment;  and  women,  intoxicated  by  the 
auoration  which  men,  under  the  influence  of  their  fenfes, 
pay  them,  do  not  feek  to  obtain  a  durable  intereft  in 
their  hearts,  or  to  become  the  friends  of  the  fellow- 
creatures  who  find  amufement  in  their  fociety. 

I  am  aware  of  an  obvious  inference  :  from  every 
quarter  have  I  heard  exclamations  againft  mafculine 
women;  but  where  are  they  to  be  found?  If,  by  this 
appellation,  men  mean  to  inveigh  againft  their  ardour  in 
hunting,  mooting,  and  gaming,  I  fiuli  moft  cordially 
join  in  the  cry;  but  if  it  be  ugainl  the  imitation  of 
manly  virtues,  or,  more  properly  ipeaking,  the  attain 
ment  of  thofe  talents  and  virtues,  the  exercne  of  which 
ennobles  the  human  character,  and  which  raife  fe 
males  in  the  fcale  of  animal  being,  when  they  are  com- 
prehenfively  termed  mankind — nil  thofe  who  view  them 
with  a  philosophical  eye  mud,  I  mould  think,  wiilt 
with  me,  that  they  may  every  day  grow  more  and 
more  mafculine. 

This  difcuffion  naturally  divides  the  fubjeft.  I  mall 
6ril  confider  women  in  the  grand  light  of  human 
creatures,  who,  in  common  with  men,  are  placed 


INTRODUCTION.  Xiil 

®n  this  earth  to  unfjld  their  faculties  ;  anl  afterwards 
I  mall  more  particularly  point  out  their  peculiar  de- 
fignation. 

I  wifh  alfo  to  Heer  clear  of  an  error,  which  many  re- 
fjjctable  writers  have  fallen  into  ;  for  the  inilruftion 
which  has  hither  been  addreffed  to  women,  has  rather 
been  applicable  to  ladies,  if  the  little  indirect  advice, 
that  is  fcattered  through  Gar.dford  and  Msrton,  be  ex- 
ceptec!  ;  but,  addreiiing  my  fcx  in  a  linner  tone,  I  pay- 
particular  attention  to  thjie  in  th2  middle  ciafs,  be- 
caufe  they  appear  to  be  in  the  moil  natural  flate.  Perhaps 
the  feeds  of  fiufe  refinement,  immorality,  and  vanity, 
have  ever  been  Hied  by  the  great.  Weak,  artificial 
beings,  raifed  above  the  common  wants  and  affections 
of  their  race,  in  a  prem-uure  unnatural  manner,  under 
mine  the  very  foundation  of  virtue,  and  fpread  corrup 
tion  through  the  whole  rnais  of  fociety !  As  a  ckfs  of 
mankind  they  have  the  iiron-eil  claim  to  pity  ;  the 
education  of  the  rich  tends  to  render  them  vain  and 
helplefs,  and  the  unfolding  mind  is  not  ftrengthened  by 
the  practice  of  thoie  duties  which  dignify  the  human 
character.  They  only  live  to  amufe  themfelves,  and 
by  the  fame  law  which  in  nature  invariably  produces 
certain  effects,  they  iboa  only  afford  barren  •amufement. 

But  as  I  purpofe  taking  a  feparateview  of  the  differ 
ent  ranks  of  fociety,  and  of  the  moial  cuaracter  of  wo 
men,  in  each,  this  hint  is,  for  the  prefent,  fufficient  ; 
and  I  have  o:\ly  alluded  to  the  fubjecl,  becauie  itap  jears 
to  n  e  to  be  ;he  very  effbnce  of  an  iu  roduclion  to 
give  a  cur  ("cry  account  of  the  conteuio  of  the  work  it 
introduces. 


XiV  INTRODUCTION. 

1  My  own  fex,  I  hope,  will  excufe  me,  if  I  treat  them 
like  rational  creatures,  inilead  of  flattering  their  fafci- 
nating  graces,  and  viewing  them  as  if  they  were  in  a 
Hate  of  perpetual  childhood,  unable  to  ftand  alone.  I 
earneftly  wifh  to  point  out  in  what  true  dignity  and  hu 
man  happinefs  confifts — I  wiih  to  perfuade  women  to  en 
deavour  to  acquire  ilrength,  both  of  mind  and  body, 
and  to  convince  them,  that  the  foft  phrafes,  fufceptibility 
of  heart,  delicacy  of  fentiment,  and  refinement  of  tafte, 
are  almcft  fynonimous  with  epithets  of  weaknefs,  and 
that  thofe  beings  who  are  only  the  objects  of  pity  and 
that  kind  of  love,  which  has  been  termed  its  fifter,  will 
foon  become  objects  of  contempt. 

Difmiffing  then  thofe  pretty  feminine  phrafes,  which 
the  men  condescendingly  ufe  to  foften  our  flaviih  de 
pendence,  and  defpifing  that  weak  elegancy  of  mind, 
exquifite  fenfibility,  and  fweet  docility  of  manners,  fup- 
pofed  to  be  the  fexual  characterises  of  the  weaker 
vefTel,  I  wifh  to  mow  that  elegance  is  inferior  to  vir 
tue,  that  the  firft  object  of  laudable  ambition  is  to  obtain 
a  character  as  a  human  being,  regardle-fs  of  the  diftinc- 
tion  of  fex ;  and  that  fecondary  views  mould  be  brought 
to  this  fimple  touchflone. 

This  is  a  rough  fketch  of 'my  plan  ;  and  mould  I  ex- 
prefs  my  conviction  with  the  energetic  emotions  that  I 
feel  whenever  I  think  of  the  fubject,  the  dictates  of  ex 
perience  and  reflexion  will  be  felt  by  fome  of  my 
readers.  Animated  by  this  important  object,  I  mall  dif- 
dain  to  cull  my  phrafes  orpolifh  my  ftyle — I  aim  at  being 
ufeful,  and  fmeerity  will  .render  me  unaffected  j  for, 


XV 


rather  to  perfuade  by  the  force  of  my  argu 
ments,  than  dazzle  by  the  elegance  of  my  language,  I 
fhall  not  wafte  my  time  in  rounding  periods,  nor  in  fa 
bricating  the  turgid  bombaft  of  artificial  feelings,  which, 
coming  from  the  head,  never  reach  the  heart.  I  mail  be 
employed  about  things,  not  words  !  —  and,  anxious  to 
render  my  fex  more  refpectable  members  of  fociety,  I 
mall  try  to  avoid  that  flowery  diction  which  has  flided 
from  elTays  into  novels,  and  from  novels  into  familiar 
letters  and  converfation. 

Thefe  pretty  nothings  —  thefe  caricatures  of  the  real 
beauty  of  fenfibiiity,  dropping  glibly  from  the  tongue, 
vitiate  the  tafte,  and  create  a  kind  of  fickly  delicacy  that 
turns  away  from  fimple  unadorned  truth  ;  and  a  de 
luge  of  falfe  fentiments,  and  overltretched  feelings, 
ftifling  the  natural  emotions  of  the  heart,  render  the  do- 
meftic  pleafures  infipid,  that  ought  to  fv/eeten  the  ex- 
ercife  of  thofe  fevere  duties,  which  educate  a  rational 
and  immortal  being  for  a  nobler  field  of  action. 

The  education  of  women  has,  of  late,  been  more  at 
tended  to  than  formerly  ;  yet  they  are  ftill  reckoned  a 
frivolous  fex,  and  ridiculed  or  pitied  by  the  writers  who 
endeavour  by  fatire  or  inftruction  to  improve  them.  It 
is  acknowledged  that  they  fpend  many  of  the  firfl 
years  of  their  lives  in  acquiring  a  Shattering  of  accom- 
plifhments  :  meanwhile,  ftrength  of  body  and  mind  arc 
facrificed  to  libertine  notions  of  beauty,  to  the  defire 
of  eftablifhing  themfelves  —  the  '  only  way  women  can 
rife  in  the  world  —  by  marriage.  And  this  defire  making 
mere  animals  of  them,  when  they  marry  they  act  as. 
C 


X  VI  I N  T  R  O  D  U  C  T I O  NT. 

fuch  children  may  be  expelled  to  act  :  they  drefs ;  they 
piint,  and  nickname  God's  creatures.  Surely  thefe 
weak  beings  are  only  fit  for  the  feraglio  !  Can  they  go 
vern  a  family,  or  take  care  of  the  poor  babes  whom  they 
bring  into  the  world  ? 

If  then  it  can  be  fairly  deduced  from  the  prefent 
conduct  of  the  fex,  from  the  prevalent  fondnefs  for 
pleafure,  which  takes  place  of  ambition  and  thofe  nobler 
paffions  that  open  and  enlarge  the  foul  j  that  the  inftruc- 
tion  which  women  have  received  has  only  tended,  with 
the  conftitution  of  civil  focieiy,  to  render  them  irifig- 
nificant  objects  of  defire  ;  mere  propagators  of  fools  ! 
if  it  can  be  proved,  that  in  aiming  to  accomplim  them, 
without  cultivating  their  underilandings,  they  are  taken 
out  of  their  fphere  of  duties,  ?_nd  made  ridiculous  and 
ufelefs  when  the  mort-lived  bloom  of  beauty  is  over*, 
I  prefume  that  rational  men  will  excuie  me  for  endea 
vouring  to  perfuade  them  to  become  more  mafculine 
and  refpeclable. 

Indeed  the  word  mafculine  is  only  a  bugbear  :  there 
is  little  reafon  to  fear  that  women  will  acquire  too  much 
courage  or  fortitude;  for  their  apparent  inferiority  with 
refpect  to  bodily  ilrength,  muft  render  them,  in  fojne  de 
gree,  dependent  on  men  in  the  various  relations  of  life  ; 
but  why  mould  It  be  increafed  by  prejudices  that  give  a 
fcx  to  virtue,  and  confound  fimple  truths  with  fenfual 
reveries  ? 

Women  are,  in  fact,  fo  much  degraded  by  miftaken 

*  A  lively  writer,  I  cannot  recollefl  Us  name,  a/is  Vilat  btiftnefe 
•women  turned  of  furty  ba^e  to  do  in  the  world. 


INTRODUCTION.  XV11- 

notions  of  female  excellence,  that  I  do  not  mean  to  add 
a  paradox  when  I  aflert,  that  this  artificial  v.-eaknefs 
produces  a  propenfity  to  tyrannize,  and  gives  birth  to 
cunning,  the  natural  opponent  of  fireiigth,  which  leads 
them  to  play  off  thofe  contemptible  infantile  airs  that 
undermine  eJdeein  even  wliilft  they  excite  dcfire.  Do 
not  fofter  thefe  prejudices,  and  they  will  naturally  fall 
into  their  fubordinate,  yet  refpeclable  ftation  in  life. 

It  feems  fcarcely  neceffary  to  fay,  that  I  now  fpeak 
of  the  fex  in  general.  Many  individuals  have  mere 
fenfe  than  their  male  relatives ;  and,  as  nothing  pre 
ponderates  where  there  is  a  conftant  flruggle  for  an 
equilibrium,  without  it  has  naturally  more  gravity, 
fome  women  govern  their  hufbands  without  degrading 
themfelves,  becaufe  intelleft  will  always  gov.cm. 


C   2 


ADVERT 'IS  EM EN1V 

r  r  HEN  I  began  te  write  this  work,  I  divided  it  tnto 
three  farts,  fuppojlng  that  one  'volume  would  contain  a  full 
diffusion  cf  tic  arguments  which  famed  to  n:e  to  rife  na- 
fur  ally  from  a  few  fimple  principles  s  lut  frcjh  illuft rations 
occurring  as  J  advanced,  I  nvw  prefent  only  the  frft  part 
;c  tic  pullic. 

Many  fi-.bjeaS}  hfrweutr,  tvlich  I  have  curforily  alluded 
to,  cdi  for  particular  in--veftigaiion,  efyeciaUy  the  lanvs 
relative  to  women,  axel  tbe  confederation  of  their  peculiar 
duties.  Tijffe  will  furnijk  ample  matter  for  a  fecond  vo 
lume,  which  in  d:te  time  will  le  publijhed,  to  clucidals 
fane  if  tl.efeniiments,  and  complete  many  cf  tie  jketckei 
le^Mi  ii  the j.rjl. 


VINDICATION 


OF    THE 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN. 


CHAP,  i: 

TJie  rights  and  involved  duties  of  mankind  confidercd. 

IN  the  prefent  {late  of.  fociety,  it  appears  neceffury  to 
go  back  to  mil  principles  in  fearch  of  the  moH  fimple 
truths,  and  to  difpute  with  fome  prevailing  prejudice 
every  inch  of  ground.  To  clear  my  way,  I  mult  be 
allowed  to  aik  fome  plain  queftions,  and  the  anfwers 
will  probably  appear  as  unequivocal  as  the  axioms  on 
which  reafoning  is  built ;  though,  when  entangled  with 
various  motives  of  action,  they  are  formally  contradicted, 
either  by  the  words  or  conduct  of  men. 

In  what  does  man's  pre-eminence  over  the  brute  cre 
ation  confift  ?  The  anfwer  is  as  clear  as  that  a  half  is 
lefs  than  the  whole  ; — In  P,eafon. 

What  acquirement  exalts  one  being  above  another  ?. 
Virtue  ;  we  fpontaneoufly  reply. 

For  what  purpofe  were  the  pafiions  implanted  ?  That 


2O  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

man  by  ^Higgling  with  them  might  attain  a  degree  of 
knowledge  denied  to  the  brutes ;  whifpers  Experience. 

Cenfequently  the  perfe&ion  of  our  nature  and  capa 
bility  of  happinefs,  muil  be  eflimated  by  the  degree  of 
reafon,  virtue,  and  knowledge,  that  diftinguim  the  indi 
vidual,  and  direct  the  laws  which  bind  fociety  :  and  that 
from  the  exercifc  of  reafon,  knowledge  and  virtue  na 
turally  flow,  is  equally  undeniable,  if  mankind  be 
viewed  collectively. 

The  rights  and  duties  of  man  thus  fimplified,  it  feems 
almoft  impertinent  to  attempt  to  illuftrate  truths  that 
appear  fo  incontrovertible  ;  yet  fuch  deeply  rooted  pre 
judices  have  clouded  reafon,  and  fjch  fpurious  qualities 
;i..\i;;;Qumed  the  name  of  virtues,  that  it  is  neceflary  to 
purlV.c  the  courfe  of  reafon  as  it  has  been  perplexed  and 
involved  in  error,  by  various  adventitious  circumilances, 
comparing  the  firnple  axiom  with  cafual  deviations. 

Men,  in  general,  feem  to  employ  their  reafon  to  juf- 
tii\  prejudices,  v/hich  they  have  imbibed,  they  cannot 
IQ.W,  rather  tlun  to  root  them  out.  The  mind  mufl 
be  ftrong  that  refolutely  forms  its  own  principles  ;  for 
a  kind  of  intellectual  cowardice  prevails  which  makes 
many  men  fhrink  from  the  talk,  or  only  do  it  by  halves. 
Yet  the  imperfect  conclufions  thus  drawn,  are  frequently 
very  plaufibie,  becaufe  they  are  built  on  partial  experi 
ence,  cti  juft,  though  narrow  views. 

Going  back  to  fidl  principles,  vice  Ikulks,  with  all 
its  native  deformity,  from  clcfe  inveiligation ;  but  a  fet 
cfftiallow  reafoners  are  always  exclaiming  that  thefe  ar 
guments  proyp  koo  much,  a-nd  that  a  meafure  rotten  at 
the  core  maybe  expedient..  Thus  expediency  is  cor^ti- 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN,  21 

nually  contrafted  with  fimple  principles,  till  truth  is  loft 
in  a  mift  of  words,  virtue  in  forms,  and  knowledge  ren 
dered  a  founding  nothing,  by^the  fpecious  prejudices 
that  aflume  its  name. 

That  the  fociety  is  formed  in  the  wifefl  manner,  whofe 
confutation  is  founded  on  the  nature  of  man,  {hikes,  in 
the  abftraft,  every  thinking  being  fo  forcibly,  that  it 
looks  like  prefumption  to  endeavour  to  bring  forward 
proofs  ;  though  proof  muil  be  brought,  or  the  flrong 
hold  of  prefcription  will  never  be  forced  by  reafon  ; 
yet  to  urge  prefcription  as  an  argument  to  juftify  the 
depriving  men  (or  women)  of  their  natural  rights,  is 
one  of  the  abfurd  fophifms  which  daily  infult  common 
fenfe. 

The  civilization  of  the  bulk  of  the  people  of  Europe, 
is  very  partial ;  nay,  it  may  be  made  a  queftion,  whe 
ther  they  have  acquired  any  virtues  in  exchange  for 
innocence,  equivalent  to  the  mifery  produced  by  the 
vices  that  have  been  plaftered  over  uniightly  ignorance, 
and  the  freedom  which  has  been  bartered  for  fplendid 
flavery.  The  defire  of  dazzling  by  riches,  the  moil 
certain  pre-eminence  that  man  can  obtain,  the  pleaiure 
of  commanding  flattering  fycophants,  and  many  other 
complicated  low  calculations  of  doting  felf-love,  have 
all  contributed  to  overwhelm  the  mafs  of  mankind,  and 
make  liberty  a  convenient  handle  for  mock  patriotifm. 
For  whilft  rank  and  titles  are  held  of  the  utmofl  im 
portance,  before  which  Genius  (C  muft  hide  its  di- 
rninimed  head,"  it  is,  with  a  few  exceptions,  very  un- 
"&rtunate  for  a  nation  when  a  man  of  abilities,  without 


VINDICATION   OF   THE 

rank  or  property,  pufties  himfelf  forward  to  notice. 
Alas !  what  unheard  of  mifery  have  thoufands  fuffered 
to  purchafe  a  cardinal's  hat  for  an  intriguing  obfcure 
adventurer,  who  longed  to  be- ranked  with  princes,  or 
lord  it  over  them  by  feizing  the  triple  crown  ! 

Such,  indeed,  has  been  the  wretchednefs  that  has 
flowed  from  hereditary  honours,  riclies,  and  monarchy, 
that  men  of  lively  fenfibility  have  almoft  utterec  b.  .f- 
phemy  in  order  to  juftify  the  difpenfations  of  providence. 
Man  has  been  held  out  as  independent  of  his  power  %v:.o 
made  him,  or  as  a  lawlefs  planet  darting  from  its  orbit 
to  ileal  the  celeflial  fire  of  reafon ;  and  the  vengeance 
of  heaven,  lurking  in  the  fubtile  flame  fuftciently 
puniflied  his  temerity,  by  introducing  evil  into  the 
world. 

Imprefled  by  this  view  of  the  mifery  and  diforder 
which  pervaded  fociety,  and  fatigued  with  joiliing  sgainft 
artificial  fools,  RoufTeau  became  enamoured  of  iolitude, 
and,  being  at  the  fame  time  an  optirnift,  he  labours  with 
uncommon  eloquence  to  prove  that  man  was  naturally 
a  folitary  animal.  Mifled  by  his  rcfpecl:  for  the  good- 
nefs  of  God,  who  certainly — for  what  man  of  fenfe 
and  feeling  can  doubt  it  ! — gave  life  only  to  communi 
cate  happinefs,  he  confiders  evil  as  pofitive,  and  the 
work  of  man;  not  aware  that  he  was  exalting  one  at 
tribute  at  the  expenfe  of  another,  equally  neceflkry  to 
divine  perfection. 

Reared  on  a  falfe  hypothecs,  his  arguments  in  favour 
of  a  flate  of  nature  are  plaufible,  but  unfound.  I  fay 
unfound;  for  to  affert  that  a  Hate  of  nature  is  preferable. 


JR.IGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  23 

to  civilization,  in  all  its  poffible  perfection,  is,  in  other 
words,  to  arraign  fupreme  wifdorn  ;  and  the  paradoxical 
exclamation,  that  God  has  made  all  things  right,  and 
that  evil  has  been  introduced  by  the  creature,  whom  he 
formed,  knowing  what  he  formed,  is  as  unphilofophical 
as  impious. 

When  that  wife  Being,  who  created  us  and  placed  us 
here,  faw  the  fair  idea,  he  willed,  by  allowing  it  to  be 
fo,  that  the  pafiions  fliould  unfold  our  reafon,  becaufe  he 
could  fee  that  prefent  evil  would  produce  future  good. 
Could  the  helplefs  creature  whom  he  called  from  nothing, 
break  loofe  from  his  providence,  and  boldly  learn  to 
know  good  by  pradlifing  evil,  without  his  permiffion  ? 
No. — How  could  that  energetic  advocate  for  immor* 
tality  argue  fo  inconfiilently  ?  Had  mankind  remained 
for  ever  in  the  brutal  ftate  of  nature,  which  even  his 
magic  pen  cannot  paint  as  a  ftate  in  which  a  fmgle  vir 
tue  took  root,  it  would  have  been  clear,  though  not  to 
the  feniitive  unreflecting  wanderer,  that  man  was  born 
to  run  the  circle  of  life  and  death,  and  adorn  God's 
garden  for  fome  purpofe  which  could  not  eafily  be  re 
conciled  with  his  attributes. 

But  if,  to  crown  the  whole,  there  were  to  be  rational 
creatures  produced,  allowed  to  rife  in  excellence  by  the 
exercife  of  powers  implanted  for  that  purpofe ;  if  be. 
nignity  itfelf  thought  fit  to  call  into  exiflence  a  crea 
ture  above  the  brutes*,  who  could  think  and  improve 


*  Contrary  to  the  opinion  of  anatom!J1st  *uJjo  argue  by  analogy  f 
the  format:on  of  the  te^'(f>)  Jlomacb,  and  intejlinesy  2\o>/JTfiZii  iviil 
filoiu  man  ta  be  a  carnivorom  animal.  Andt  carried  atvayj'rom 


rom 


nature 


24  VINDICATION    OF    TfiE 

himfelf,  why  mould  that  ineftirnable  gift,  for  a  gift  it 
was,  if  a  man  was  fo  created  as  to  have  a  capacity  to 
rife  above  the  ftate  in  which  fenfation  produced  brutal 
eafe,  be  called,  in  direct  terms,  a  curfe  ?  A  curfe  it  might 
be  reckoned,  if  all  our  exigence  was  bounded  by  our 
continuance  in  this  world  ;  for  why  mould  the  gracious 
fountain  of  life  give  us  paffions,  and  the  power  of  re 
flecting,  only  to  embitter  our  days,  and  infpire  us  with, 
miftaken  notions  of  dignity  ?  Why  mould  he  lead  us 
from  love  of  ourfelves  to  the  fublime  emotions  which 
the  difcovery  of  his  wifdom  and  goodnefs  excites,  if 
thefe  feelings  were  not  fet  in  motion  to  improve  our 
nature,  of  which  they  make  a  partf,  and  render  us  ca 
pable  of  enjoying  a  more  godlike  portion  of  happinefs  ? 
Firmly  perfuaded  that  no  evil  exifb  in  the  world  that 
God  did  not  defign  to  take  place,  I  build  niy  belief  on 
the  perfection  of  God. 

Rouffeau  exerts  himfelf  to  prove,  that  all  was  right 
originally  :  a  crowd  of  authors  that  all  is  now  right  : 
and  I,  that  all  w/7/  be  right. 

lyaloveoffyjlsm,  be  d'-f^utet  <iVlet!>er  mm  be  a  gregarious  animal, 
tbougl  the  long  and  beliefs  ftaie  of  'infancy  fe^mt  lo  fo'iKt  L;tn  out  at 
particularly  impelled  to  pair . 

\  What  ivould  you  fay  fo  a  mechanic  lulom  you  lad  drfircd  to  male 
a  ivaichto  point  out  the  hour  of  tie  L<.  '•-'  f-'is  ingenuity,  be  added 

wheels  to  mate  it  a  repeater,  1£c   that  pe)  /-'•  /'-'  mecl.amftn  ; 

fbould  he  urge,  to  c+cufe  I'urf.  f~ LfiJ  j"<  noi  tout  cd a  certal>fjfringt 
you  would  Lave  kr.rtun  nothing  of  tie  r.^/.r,',  and  tuc.t  lx  Jbovld  bavt 
anufed  bimfelf  bv  making  an  experiment  Tcit'-o>.t  tlc'n?  yo;i  .;/';'  harm  : 
ivould  ysu  not  retort  fairly  upon  hi™,  by  ifiJif>:"->;  <•'•'  '  'j  '•"  ba<*  not 
added  tbofe  nccdlefs  wbtclt  and  fftiagt,  the  accident  <tul<l  not 
happened. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  25 

But,  true  to  his  firil  pofition,  next  to  a  flatc  of  na 
ture,  Rouffeau  celebrates  barbarifm,  and,  apoftrophizing 
the  made  of  Fabricius,  he  forgets  that,  in  conquering 
the  world,  the  Romans  never  dreamed  of  eflablifning 
their  own  liberty  on  a  firm  bafis,  or  of  extending  the 
reign  of  virtue.  Eager  to  fupport  his  fyflem,  he  ftig- 
matizes,  as  vicious,  every  effort  of  genius ;  and,  uttering 
the  apotheofis  of  favage  virtues,  he  exalts  thofe  to  demi 
gods,  who  were  fcarcely  human — the  brutal  Spartans, 
who,  in  defiance  of  juftice  and  gratitude,  facriiked  in 
cold  blood,  the  flaves  who  had  mown  themfglves  men  to 
refcue  their  oppreiTors. 

Difgufled  with  artificial  manners  and  virtues,  the 
citizen  of  Geneva,  inftead  of  properly  fifting  the  fub- 
jeft,  threw  away  the  wheat  with  the  chaff,  without 
waiting  to  inquire  whether  the  evils,  which  his  ardent 
foul  turned  from  indignantly,  were  the  confequence  of 
civilization,  or  the  vefliges  of  barbarifm.  He  faw  vice 
trampling  on  virtue,  and  the  femblance  of  goodnefs 
taking  place  of  the  reality  ;  he  faw  talents  bent  by  power 
to  fmifter  purpofes,  and  never  thought  of  tracing  the 
gigantic  mifchief  up  to  arbitrary  power,  up  to  the  he 
reditary  diftin&ions  that  clam  with  the  mental  fuperi- 
ority  that  naturally  raifes  a  man  above  his  fellows.  He 
did  not  perceive,  that  the  regal  power,  in  a  few  gene 
rations,  introduces  idiotifm  into  the  noble  Item,  and 
holds  out  baits  to  render  thoufands  idle  and  vicious. 

Nothing  can  fet  the  regal  character  in  a  more  con 
temptible  point  of  view,  than  the  various  crimes  that 
have  elevated  men  to  the  fupreme  dignity.  Vile  in- 


26  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

trigues,  unnatural  crimes,  and  every  vice  that  degrades 
our  nature,  have  been  the  fteps  to  this  diftinguimed 
eminence  ;  yet  millions  of  men  have  fupinely  allowed 
the  nervelefs  limbs  of  the  pofterity  of  fuch  rapacious 
prowlers  to  reft  quietly  on  their  enfanguined  thrones*. 
What  but  a  peftilential  vapour  can  hover  over  fociety, 
when  its  chief  director  is  only  inftructed  in  the  inven 
tion  of  crimes,  or  the  ftupid  routine  of  chil dim  ceremo 
nies  ?  Will  men  never  be  wife  ? — will  they  never  ceafe 
to  expect  corn  from  tares,  and  figs  from  thiftles  ? 

It  is  impolfible  for  any  man,  when  the  moft  favour 
able  circumflances  concur,  to  acquire  fufficient  know 
ledge  and  ftrength  of  mind  to  difcharge  the  duties  of  a 
king,  entrufled  with  uncontrolled  power;  how  then 
muft  they  be  violated  when  his  very  elevation  is  an 
infuperable  bar  to  the  attainment  of  either  wifdom  or 
virtue ;  when  all  the  feelings  of  a  man  are  ftifled  by 
flattery,  and  reflection  fhut  out  by  pleafure  !  Surely  it  is 
madnefs  to  make  the  fate  of  thoufands  depend  on  the 
caprice  of  a  weak  fellow-creature,  whofe  very  ftation 
finks  him  necej/arily  below  the  meaneft  of  his  fubjects  ! 
But  one  power  mould  not  be  thrown  down  to  exalt 
another — for  all  power  intoxicates  weak  man;  and  its 
abufe  proves,  that  the  more  equality  there  is  eftabliihed 
among  men,  the  more  virtue  and  happinefs  will  reign 
in  fociety.  But  this,  and  any  fimilar  maxim  deduced 
from  fimple  reafon,  raifes  an  outcry — the  church  or  the 

*  Could  there  ie  a  greater  infult  offered  to  tie  rights  of  man,  tlsn 
ihe  beds  of  jujlice  in  Frantc,  lulsn  an  infant  was  madetht  organ  oflbt 
Jeteftablc  Dubo'u  ! 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  2J 

ftate  is  in  danger,  if  faith  in  the  wifdom  of  antiquity  is 
not  implicit ;  and  they  who,  roufed  by  the  fight  of  hu 
man  calamity,  dare  to  attack  human  authority,  are  re 
viled  as  defpifers  of  God,  and  enemies  of  man.  Thefe 
are  bitter  calumnies,  yet  they  reached  one  of  the  beft 
of  men,*  whofe  allies  flili  preach  peace,  and  whofe  me 
mory  demands  a  refpe&ful  paufe,  when  fubje&s  are  dif- 
cuffed  that  lay  fo  near  his  heart. 

After  attacking  the  facred  majelty  of  Kings,  I  mall 
fcarcely  excite  furprife,  by  adding  my  firm  perfualion, 
that  every  profeffion,  in  which  great  fubordination  of 
rank  conftitutes  its  power,  is  highly  injurious  to  mo 
rality. 

A  ftanding  army,  for  inftance,  is  incompatible  with 
freedom  ;  becaufe  fubordination  and  rigour  are  the  very 
{mews  of  military  difcipline  ;  and  defpotifm  is  neceftary 
to  give  vigour  to  enterprifes  that  one  will  directs.  A 
fpirit  infpired  by  romantic  notions  of  honour,  a  kind 
of  morality  founded  on  the  fafliion  of  the  age,  can  only 
be  felt  by  a  few  officers,  whilft  the  main  body  muft  be 
moved  by  command,  like  the  waves  of  the  fea  ;  for  the 
ftrong  wind  of  authority  pufhes  the  crowd  of  fubalterns 
forward,  they  fcarcely  know  or  care  why,  with  headlong 
fury. 

Befides,  nothing  can  be  fo  prejudicial  to  the  morals 
of  the  inhabitants  of  country  towns,  as  the  occasional 
refidence  of  a  fet  of  idle  fuperftcial  young  men,  whofe 
only  occupation  is  gallantry,  and  whofe  poliihed  man 
ners  render  vice  more  dangerous,  by  concealing  its  de- 

*   Dr.  Price. 

D 


2,8  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

forrrjiy  under  gay  ornamental  drapery.  An  air  of  fa- 
fhion,  which  is  but  a  badge  of  flavery,  and  proves  that 
the  foul  has  not  a  fcrong  individual  character,  awes  fim- 
ple  country  people  into  an  imitation  of  the  vices,  when 
they  cannot  catch  the  flippery  graces  of  politenefs. 
Every  corps  is  a  chain  of  dcfpots,  who,  fubmitting  and 
tyrannizing  without  exerciiing  their  reafon,  become 
dead  weights  of  vice  and  folly  on  the  community,  A 
man  of  rank  or  fortune,  fare  of  riling  by  intereft,  has 
nothing  to.  do  but  to  purfae  forne  extravagant  freak  ; 
v»hiiit  the  needy  gentleman,  who  is  to  rife,  as  the  phrafe 
turns,  by  his  merit,  becomes  a  fervile  parafite  or  vile 
pander. 

Sailors,  the  naval  gentlemen,  come  under  the  fame 
defcription,  only  their  vices  affume  a  different  and  a 
grefler  care.  They  are  more  pofitively  indolent,  when 
not  difcharging  the  ceremonials  of  their  ftation  ;  whilft 
the  infignificant  fhttcrirg  cf  foldiers  may  be  termed  ac 
tive  idlcnefs.  More  confined  to  the  fociety  of  men,  the 
former  acquire  a  frndnefs  for  humour  and  mifchievous 
tricks  ;  whilfl  the  latter,  mixing  frequently  with  well- 
bred  \Ycroeiij-  catch  a  fentimental  cant. — But  mintl  is 
equally  out  of  the  queftion,  whether  they  indulge  the 
horfe-laugh.  or  polite  fimper. 

May  I  be  allowed  to  extend  the  comparifon  to  a  pro- 
fcflion,  where  more  mind  is  certain1  y  to  be  found  ;  for 
the  clergy  nave  fuperior  opportunities  cf  improvement, 
tliougb.  fubordination  almoft  equally  cramps  their  facul 
ties  ?  The  blind  fubmiffion  impofed  at  college  to  forms 
of  belief,  ferves  as  a  novitiate  to  the  cura'ce,  whomcft  ob- 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  2Q 

fequioully  refpec~l  the  opinion  of  his  reclor  or  patron,  if 
he  means  to  rife  in  his  profelRdn.  Peirfia^s  there  cannot 
be  a  more  forcible  contrail  tnan  between  the  fervile  de 
pendent  gait  of  a  poor  curate  and  the  courtly  ir.cin  of 
n  bifnop.  And  the  refpeft  and  contempt  they  infpire 
render  the  difcharge  of  their  feperate  functions  equally 
ufelefs. 

It  is  of  great  importance  to  obferve,  that  the  cho.ra6t.er 
of  every  man  is,  in  feme  degree,  formed  by  his  profel- 
fion.  A  man  of  fenfe  may  only  have  a  call  of  counte 
nance  that  wears  off  as  you  trace  his  individuality,  whiht 
the  weak,  common  man  has  fcarcely  ever  any  character, 
but  what  belongs  to  the  body ;  at  leaft,  all  his  opinions 
have  been  fo  fteeped  in  the  vat  confecrated  by  authority, 
that  the  faint  fpirit  which  the  gr.ipe  of  his  own  vine 
yields  cannot  be  diilinguifhed. 

Society,  therefore,  as  it  becomes  more  enlightened, 
mould  be  very  careful  not  to  eftablifh  bodies  of  men,  who 
muft  neceiTarily  be  made  foolifh  or  vicious  by  the  very 
conftitution  of  their  profeilion. 

In  the  infancy  of  fociety,  when  men  were  juft  emerg 
ing  out  of  barbarifm,  chiefs  and  priefb,  touching  the 
moft  powerful  fp rings  of  favage  conduct,  hope  and  fear, 
mufl  have  had  unbounded  iV.iv.  An.  arillocracy,  of 
courfe,  is  naturally  the  firft  form  oi"  govjrnment.  But 
claming  in tereftsfoonlofmg  their  equipoile,  a  monarchy 
and  hierarchy  break  out  of  the  confufion  of  ambitious 
ftfuggles,  and  the  foundation  of  both  is.fecured  by  feudal 
tenures.  This  appears  to  be  the  origin  of  monarchical 
and  prieftly  power,  and  the  dawn  of  civilization.  But 

D.2 


3©  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

fuch  combuftibie  materials  cannot  long  be  pent  up ;  and, 
getting  vent  in  foreign  wars  and  inteftine  infurre&ions, 
the  people  acquire  Tome  power  in  the  tumult,  which 
obliges  their  rulers  to  glofs  over  their  oppreflion  with  a 
mew  of  right.  Thus,  as  wars,  agriculture,  commerce, 
and  literature  expand  the  mind,  defpots  are  compelled, 
to  make  covert  corruption  hold  faft  the  power  which 
was  formerly  matched  by  open  force  *.  And  this  bane 
ful  lurking  gangrene  is  moil  quickly  fpread  by  luxury 
and  fuperftition,  the  fure  dregs  of  ambition.  The  in 
dolent  puppet  of  a  court  firft  becomes  a  luxurious  mon- 
fter,  or  fiilidious  fenfualift,  and  then  makes  the  con 
tagion  which  his  unnatural  Hate  fpread,  the  inflrument 
of  tyranny. 

It  is  the  peftifarious  purple  which  renders  the  progrefs 
of  civilization  a  curfe,  and  warps  the  underflanding,  till 
men  of  fenfibiiity  doubt  whether  the  expanfion  of  intel 
lect  produces  a  greater  portion  of  happinefs  or  mifery. 
But  the  nature  of  the  poifon  points  out  the  antidote  ; 
and  had  Roufieau  mounted  one  ftep  higher  in  his  invef- 
tigation;  or  could  his  eye  have  pierced  through  the 
foggy  atmofphere,  which  he  almoil  difdained  to  breathe, 
his  aclive  mind  would  have  darted  forward  to  contem 
plate  the  perfection  of  man  in  the  eflablifnment  of  true 
civilization,  inftead  of  taking  his  ferocious  flight  back 
to  the  night  of  fenfual  ignorance. 

*  JWeu  ef  abilities  fcatter  feeds  that  gt  oiv  uj>}  and  have  a  great  in 
fluence  on  the  firming  opinion  ;  and  ivben  onct  the  pftbllc  opinion  prepon  • 
derates,  through  the  exertion  of  reafon,  tie  <fcerthtQ"w  of  arbitrary 
foiver  is  not  vet  y  di/Lint. 


RIGHTS    OF  WOMAN.  3! 


CHAP.     II. 

The  prevailing  opinion  of  a  fexual  character  difcujjed. 

JL  O  account  for,  and  excufe  the  tyranny  of  man, 
many  ingenious  arguments  have  been  brought  forward 
to  prove,  that  the  two  fexes,  in  the  acquirement  of  vir 
tue,  ought  to  aim  at  attaining  a  very  different  charac 
ter:  or,  to  fpeak  explicitly,  women  are  not  allowed  to 
have  fufficient  flrength  of  mind  to  acquire  what  really 
deferves  the  name  of  virtue.  Yet  it  fhould  feem,  allow 
ing  them  to  have  fouls,  that  there  is  but  one  way  ap 
pointed  by  Providence  to  lead  mankind  to  either  virtue 
or  happinefs. 

If  then  women  are  not  a  fvvarm  of  ephemeron  triflers> 
why  mould  they  be  kept  in  ignorance  under  the  fpe- 
cious  name  of  innocence  ?  Men  complain,  and  with 
reafon,  of  the  follies  and  caprices  of  our  fex,  when 
they  do  not  keenly  fatirize  our  headHrong  palfions  and 
groveling  vices. — Behold,  I  fliould  anfwer,  the  natural 
effect  of  ignorance !  The  mind  will  ever  be  unftable  that 
has  only  prejudices  to  reft  on,  and  the  current  will  run. 
with  deftruclive  fury  when  there  are  no  barriers  to 
break  its  force.  Women  are  told  from  their  infancy, 
and  taught  by  the  example  of  their  mothers,  that  a  lit 
tle  knowledge  of  human  weaknefs,  juftly  termed  cun 
ning,  foftnefs  of  temper,  outward  obedience,  and  a 
fcrupulous  attention  to  a  puerile  kind  of  propriety,  will 
obtain  for  them  the  protection  of  man;  and  Ihould  they 


32  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

be  beautiful,  every  thing  elfe  is  needlefs,  for,  at  leaft, 
twenty  years  of  their  lives. 

Thus  Milton  defcribes  our  firft  frail  mother;  though 
when  he  tells  us  that  women  are  formed  for  foftnefs  and 
fvveet  attractive  grace,  1  cannot  comprehend  his  mean 
ing,  unlefs,  in  the  true  Mahometan  flrain,  he  meant  to 
deprive  us  of  fouls,  and  insinuate  that  we  were  beings 
only  defigned  by  fweet  attractive  grace,  and  docile 
blind  obedience,  to  gratify  the  fenfes  of  man  when  he 
can  no  longer  foar  on  the  wing  of  contemplation. 

How  grofsly  do  they  infult  us,  who  thus  advife  us 
only  to  render  ourfelves  gentle,  domeftic  brutes !  For 
i  iftance,  the  winning  foftnefs  fo  warmly,  and  frequent 
ly  recommended,  that  governs  by  obeying.  What 
childifh  expreflions,  and  how  infignificant  is  the  being 
can  it  be  an  immortal  one?  who  will  condefcend  to 
govern  by  fuch  fmifter  methods !  <  Certainly,'  fays 
Lord  Bacon,  '  man  is  of  kin  to  the  beafts  by  his  body;. 
•  and  if  he  be  not  of  kin  to  God  by  his  fpirit,  he  is  a 
'  bafe  and  ignoble  creature!'  Men,  indeed,  appear  to 
rne  to  aft  in  a  very  unphilofophical  manner,  when  they 
try  to  fecure  the  good  conduct  of  women  by  attempting 
to  keep  them  always  in  a  ftate  of  childhood.  RoufTeau 
was  more  confident  when  he  wifhed  to  flop  the  progrefs, 
of  reafon  in  both  fexes,  for  if  men  eat  of  the  tree  of 
knowledge,  women  will  come  in  for  a  tafle;  but,  from 
the  imperfect  cultivation  which  their  underftan dings 
now  receive,  they  only  attain  a  knowledge  of  evil. 

Children,  I  grant,  mould  be  innocent;  but  when  the 
epithet  is  applied  to  mc-n,  or  women,  it  is  but  a  civil 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN,  33 

term  for  weaknefs.  For  if  it  be  allowed  that  women 
were  deftined  by  Providence  to  acquire  human  virtues, 
and  by  the  exercife  of  their  underilandings,  that  liabi 
lity  of  character  which  is  the  firmeft  ground  to  reft  our 
future  hopes  upon,  they  muft  be  permitted  to  turn  to 
the  fountain  of  light,  and  not  forced  to  fhape  their 
courfe  by  the  twinkling  of  a  mere  fatellite.  Miiton,  I 
grant,  was  of  a  very  different  opinion;  for  he  only 
bends  to  the  indefefible  right  of  beauty,  though  it 
would  be  difficult  to  render  two  paffages  which  I  now 
mean  to  contrail,  confident.  But  into  fimilar  inconftft- 
encies  are  great  men  often  led  by  their  fenfes, 

To  iv/jom  tlus  Eve  with  perfe<9:  beauty  adoriid ' : 
JMy  Author  and  Dijpojert  "what  tbou  bidft 
Unargucd  /  obey  ;  fo  God  ordains ; 
God  is  thy  law,  thou  mine  :  to  know  no  more 
Is  Wamans  happieft  knowledge  and  her  praife.' 

Thefe  are  exactly  the  arguments  that  I  have  ufed  to 
children;  but  I  have  added,  your  reafon  is  now  gaining 
flrength,  and,  till  it  arrives  at  fome  degree  of  maturity, 
you  muft  look  up  to  me  for  advice — then  you  ought  to 
think,  and  only  rely  on  God. 

Yet  in  the  following  lines  Milton  feems  to  coincide 
with  me;  when  he  makes  Adam  thus  expoftu-late  with 
his  Maker. 


JJajl  thou  not  made  me  here  thy  fulftittite. 
And  tbefe  inferior  far  beneath  me  fet  ? 
Among  unequals  ivbatfociety 
Can  fort,  tubat  Larmony  or  true  delight  ? 
Wblth  mujl  be  mutual^  in  •proportion  due 


34  VINDICATION   OF    THE 

Giifn  and  receivd  ;   tut  in  difparicy 
ffht  one  intenfe^  the  other  jlill  retr.lfi 
Cannot  ivellfuit  •with  either^  but  foon  prevf 
Tedious  alike  :  of  fellowfhip  I fpeak 
Such  as  Ifeek.fit  to  participate 
All  rational  delight — • 

In  treating,  therefore,  of  the  manners  of  women, 
let  us,  difregarding  fenfual  arguments,  trace  what  we 
mould  endeavour  to  make  them  in  order  to  co-operate, 
if  the  expreffion  be  not  too  bold,  with  the  Supreme 
Being. 

By  individual  education,  I  mean,  for  the  fenfe  of  the 
word  is  not  precifely  defined,  fuch  an  attention  to  a 
child  as  will  {lowly  fliarpen  the  fenfes,  form  the  temper, 
regulate  the  paflions,  as  they  begin  to  ferment,  and  fet 
the  underftanding  to  work  before  the  body  arrives  at 
maturity ;  fo  that  the  man  may  only  have  to  proceed, 
not  to  begin,  the  important  tafk  of  learning  to  think 
and  reafon. 

To  prevent  any  mifconftru&ion,  I  mult  add,  that  I 
do  not  believe  that  a  private  education  can  work  the 
wonders  which  fome  fanguine  writers  have  attributed  to 
it.  Men  and  women  muft  be  educated,  in  a  great  de 
gree,  by  the  opinions  and  manners  of  the  fociety  they 
live  in.  In  every  age  there  has  been  a  ftream  of  popu 
lar  opinion  that  has  carried  all  before  it,  and  given  a 
family  character,  as  it  were,  to  the  century.  It  may 
then  fairly  be  inferred,  that,  till  fociety  be  differently 
conftituted,  much  cannot  be  expected  from  education. 
It  is,  however,  fufficient  for  my  prefent  purpofe  to 
aflert,  that,  whatever  effect  circumftances  have  en  the. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  35 

abilities,  every  being  may  become  virtuous  by  the  exer- 
cife  of  its  own  reafon;  for  if  but  one  being  was  created 
with  vicious  inclinations,  that  is  pofitively  bad,  what 
can  fave  us  from  atlieifm?  or  if  we  worfhip  a  God,  is 
not  that  God  a  devil? 

Confequently,  the  moft  perfect  education,  in  my 
opinion,  is  fuch  an  exercife  of  the  underftanding  as  is 
beft  calculated  to  flrengtlien  the  body  and  form  the 
heart.  Or,  in  other  words,  to  enable  the  individual  to 
attain  fuch  habits  of  virtue  as  will  render  it  indepen 
dent.  In  faft,  it  is  a  farce  to  call  any  being  virtuous 
whofe  virtues  do  not  refult  from  the  exercife  of  its  own 
reafon.  This  was  Rouffeau's  opinion  refpec"Ung  men: 
I  extend  it  to  women,  and  confidently  ailert,  that  they 
have  been  drawn  out  of  their  fphere  by  falfe  refinement, 
and  not  by  an  endeavour  to  acquire  mafculine  qualities. 
Still  the  regal  homage  which  they  receive  is  fo  intoxicat 
ing,  that  till  the  manners  of  the  times  are  changed, 
and  formed  on  more  reafonable  principles,  it  may  be 
impoflible  to  convince  them,  that  the  illegitimate  power, 
which  they  obtain  by  degrading  themfelves,  is  a  curfe, 
and  that  they  mult  return  to  nature  and  equality,  if  they 
wifh  to  fecure  the  placid  fatisfa&ion  that  unfophifticated 
affections  impart.  Bat  for  this  epoch  we  muft  wait- 
wait,  perhaps,  till  kings  and  nobles,  enlightened  by 
reafon,  and,  preferring  the  real  dignity  of  man  to  childiih 
ftate,  throw  off  their  gaudy  hereditary  trappings:  and 
if  then  women  do  no  relign  the  arbitrary  power  of 
beauty — they  will  prove  that  they  have  lefs  mind  than 
man. 


36  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

I  may  be  accufed  of  arrogance ;  ftill  I  muil  declare, 
what  1  firmly  believe,  that  all  the  writers  who  have 
written  on  the  iuhject  of  female  education  and  manners, 
from  Rouficau  to  Dr.  Gregory,  have  contributed  to  ren 
der  women  more  artificial,  weak  characters,  than  they 
would  otherwife  have  been;  and,  confequently,  more 
ufelefs  members  of  ibciety.  I  might  have  expreiled  this 
conviction  in  a  lower  key;  but  I  am  afraid  it  would 
have  been  the  whine  of  affectation,  and  not  the  faithful 
expreflion  of  my  feelings,  of  the  clear  refult,  which  ex 
perience  and  reflection  have  led  me  to  draw.  When  I 
come  to  that  divifion  of  the  fubject,  I  mail  advert  to  the 
paffages  that  I  more  particularly  difapprove  of,  in  the 
works  of  the  authors  I  have  juil  alluded  to ;  but  it  is 
firft  neceffary  to  obferve,  that  my  objection  extends  to 
the  whole  purport  of  thofe  books,  which  tend,  in  my 
opinion,  to  degrade  one  half  of  the  human  fpecies,  and 
render  women  pleafing  at  the  expence  of  every  folid 
virtue. 

Though,  to  reafon  on  Roufteau's  ground,  if  man  did 
attain  a  degree  of  perfection  of  mind  when  his  body  ar 
rived  at  maturity,  it  might  be  proper,  in  order  to  make 
a  man  and  his  wife  one,  that  {he  mould  rely  entirely  on 
his  underftanding ;  and  the  graceful  ivy,  clafping  the 
oak  that  fupported  it,  would  form  a  whole  in  which 
flrength  and  beauty  would  be  equally  confpicuous.  But, 
alas !  hufbands,  as  well  as  their  helpmates,  are  often 
only  overgrown  children ;  nay,  thanks  to  early  de 
bauchery,  fcarcely  men  in  their  outward  form — and  if 
the  blind  lead  the  blind,  one  need  not  come  from  hea 
ven  to  tell  us  the  confequence. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  37 

Many  arc  the  caufes  that,  in  the  prefent  corrupt  ftate 
of  fociety,  contribute  to  enflave  women  by  cramping 
their  underftandings  and  fliarpening  their  fenfes.  One, 
perhaps,  that  filently  does  more  mifchief  than  all  the 
reft,  is  their  difregard  of  order. 

To  do  every  thing  in  an  orderly  manner,  is  a  moll 
important  precept,  which  women,  who,  generally  fpeak- 
ing,  receive  only  a  diforderly  kind  of  education,  fel- 
dorn  attend,  to  with  that  degree  of  exadnefs  that  men, 
who  from  their  infancy  are  broken  into  method,  ob- 
ferve.  This  negligent  kind  of  guefs-work,  for  what 
•other  epithet  can  be  ufed  to  point  out  the  random  exer 
tions  of  a  fort  of  inilindlive  common  fenfe,  never  brought 
to  the  ted  of  reafon  ?  prevents  their  generalizing  mat 
ters  of  facl: — fo  they  do  to-day,  what  they  did  yefter- 
day,  merely  becaufe  they  did  it  yefterday. 

This  contempt  of  the  undemanding  in  early  life  has 
mere  baneful  coofcqueiices  than  is  commonly  Aippofed; 
for  the  little  knowledge  wUich  women  of  ftrong  minds 
attain,  is,  from  various  circumiiances,  of  a  more  deuil- 
tory  kind  than  the  knowledge  of  men,  and  it  is  acquired 
more  by  meer  obfe'rvations  on  real  life,  than  from  com 
paring  what  has  been  individually  obferved  with  the  re- 
falts  of  experience  generalized  by  fpeculation.  Led  by 
their  dependent  fituatbn  and  domeftic  employments 
more  into  fociety,  what  they  learn  is  rather  by  fnatches; 
and  as  learning  is  with  them,  in  general,  only  a  fecon- 
dary  tiling,  they  Jo  not  purfue  any  one  branch  with 
that  pcrievcring  ardour  neccflary  to  give  vigour  to  the 
faculties,  and  clcaraefs  to  the  judgment.  In  the  pre- 


3  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

fent  ilate  of  fociety,  a  little  learning  is  required  to  fup- 
port  the  character  of  a  gentleman;  and  boys  are  obliged, 
to  fubmit  to  a  few  years  of  difcipline.  But  in  the  edu 
cation  of  women,  the  cultivation  of  the  underftanding 
is  always  fubordinate  to  the  acquirement  of  fome  cor 
poreal  accomplifhment ;  even  while  enervated  by  con 
finement  and  falie  notions  of'modefty,  the  body  is  pre 
vented  from  attaining  that  grace  and  beauty  which 
relaxed  half- formed  limbs  never  exhibit.  Befides,  in 
youth  their  faculties  are  not  brought  forward  by  emula 
tion;  and  having  no  ferious  fcientific  ftudy,  if  they 
have  natural  fagacity  it  is  turned  too  foon  on  life  and 
manners.  They  dwell  on  effects,  and  modifications, 
without  tracing  them  back  to  caufes ;  and  complicated 
rules  to  adjuft  behaviour  are  a  weak  fubftitute  for  fim- 
ple  principles. 

As  a  proof  that  education  gives  this  appearance  of 
\veaknefs  to  females,  we  may  initance  the  example  of 
military  men,  who  are,   like  them,  fent  into  the  world 
before  their  minds  have  been  ftored  with  knowledge  or 
fortified  by  principles.     The  confequences  are  fimilar  ; 
foldiers  acquire  a  little  fuperficial  knowledge,  fnatched 
from  the  muddy  current  of  converfation,  and,  from  con 
tinually  mixing  with  fociety,  they  gain,  what  is  termed 
a  knowledge  of  the  world;  and  this  acquaintance  with 
manner*  and  cufloms   has  frequently  been  confounded 
with  a  knowledge  of  the  human   heart.     But  can  the 
crude  fruit  of  cafual  obfervation,  never  brought  to  the 
tcft  of  judgment,  formed  by  comparing  fpeculation  and,, 
experience,  defer ve  fuch  a  diftinction?  Soldiers,  as  well 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  39 

women,  pra&ife  the  minor  virtues  with  punctilious  po- 
litenefs.  Where  is  then  the  fexual  difference,  when  the 
education  has  been  the  fame  ;  All  the  difference  thdt  I 
can  difcern,  arifes  from  the  fuperior  advantage  of  liber 
ty,  which  enables  the  former  to  fee  more  of  life. 

It  is  wandering  from  my  prefent  fubjedl,  perhaps,  to 
make  a  political  remark;  but  as  it  was  produced  natu 
rally  by  the  train  of  my  reflections,  1  ihall  not  pafs  it  fi- 
lently  over. 

Standing  armies  can  ever  confift  of  refolute,  robuft 
men ;  they  may  be  well  difciplined  machines,  but  they 
will  feldom  contain  men  under  the  influence  of  itrong 
paffions,  or  with  very  vigorous  faculties.  And  as  for 
any  depth  of  underfcanding,  I  will  venture  to  affirm,  that 
it  is  as  rarely  to  be  found  in  the  army  as  amongft  wo 
men  ;  and  the  caufe,  I  maintain,  is  the  fame.  It  may 
be  further  obferved,  that  officers  are  alfo  particularly  at 
tentive  to  their  perfons,  fond  of  dancing,  crowded  rooms, 
adventures,  and  ridicule*  .  Like  the  fair  fex,  the  bufi- 
nefs  of  their  lives  is  gallantry — They  were  taught  to 
pleafe,  and  they  only  live  to  pleafe.  Yet  they  do  net 
lofe  their  rank  in  the  diftinclion  of  fexes,  for  they  are 
ftill  reckoned  fuperior  to  women,  though  in  what  their 
fuperiority  confifts,  beyond  what  I  have  juit  mentioned, 
it  is  difficult  to  difcover. 

The  great  misfortune  is  this,  that  they  both  acquire 

*    Why  faould  lOotnen  be  ctnfured   lulik  petulant  aci  • 
tJj-y  fet.'M  to  have  a  pajjion  for  a  fear  let  coat  ?   Has  nut  e 
tre  on  a  level  ultb  fddhrs  than  any  ctbcr  ciifs  cj 

E 


40  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

manners  before  morals,  and  a  knowledge  of  life  before 
they  have,  from  reflection,  any  acquaintance  'with  the 
grand  ideal  outline  of  human  nature.  The  confequence 
is  natural;  fatisfied  with  common  nature,  they  become 
a  prey  to  prejudices,  and  tr.king  all  their  opinions  on 
credit,  they  blindly  fubrnit  to  authority.  So  that,  if  they 
have  any  fenfe,  ic  is  a  kind  of  inftinctive  glance,  that 
catches  proportions,  and  decides  with  refpect  to  man 
ners  ;  but  fails  when  arguments  are  to  be  purfued  below 
the  furfaee,  or  opinions  analyzed. 

May  not  the  fame  remark  be  applied  to  women  ? 
Nay,  the  argument  may  be  carried  {till  further,  for  they 
are  both  thrown  out  of  a  ufeful  ilation  by  the  unnatural 
diilin£tions  eUablifned  in  civilized  life.  Riches  and  he 
reditary  honours  have  made  cyphers  of  women  to  give 
conie|uence  to  the  numerical  figure  ;  and  idlenefs  has 
produced  a  mixture  of  gallantry  and  defpotifm  into  fo- 
ciety,  which  Isads  the  very  men  who  are  the  flaves  of 
their  miftreffes,  to  tyrannize  over  their  fillers,  wives,  and 
daughters.  This  is  only  keeping  them  in  rank  and  file, 
it  is  true.  Strengthen  the  female  mind  by  enlarging  it, 
and  there  will  be  an  end  to  blind  obedience;  but,  as 
blind  obedience  is  ever  fought  for  by  power,  tyrants  and 
fenfjali.ls  are  in  the  right  when  they  endeavour  to  keep 
women  in  the  dark,  becaufe  the  former  only  want  flaves, 
and  the  latter  a  play-thing.  The  fenfualift,  indeed,  has 
been,  the  moft  dangerous  of  tyrants,  and  women  have 
been  duped  by  their  lovers,  as  princes  by  their  mini- 
flers,  -vvhilil  dreaming  that  they  reigned  over  them. 

I  now  principally  allude  to  RouiTeau,  for  his  charac- 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  4! 

ter  of  Sophia,  is,  undoubtedly,  a  captivating  cr.c,  though 
it  appears  to  me  groisly  unnatural  ;  however,  it  is  r,ot 
the  fuperftru&ure,  but  die  foundation  or  her  charter, 
the  principles  on  which  her  education  was  built,  u 
mean  to  attack  j  nay,  warmly  as  I  admire  the  genius  of 
that  able  writer,  whofe  opinions  1  iliali  often  have  co 
cafion  to  cite,  indignation  always  takes  place  of  adnn- 
ration,  and  the  rigid  frown  of  iniultcd  virtue  effaces  the 
fmile  of  complacency,  which  his  eloquent  periods  are 
wont  to  raife,  when  I  read  his  voluptuous  reveries.  3s 
this  the  man,  who,  in  his  ardour  for  virtue,  would  baniih 
all  the  foft  arts  of  peace,  and  aimoft  carry  us  back  10 
Spartan  difcipiine  ?  Is  this  the  man  who  delights  to 
paint  the  ufeful  ftrugglss  of  pafiion,  the  triumphs  of  good 
difpofitions,  and  the  heroic  flights  which  carry  the 
glowing  foul  out  of  itfelf  ? — How  are  thefc  mighty  fcn- 
ments  lowered  when  he  defcribes  the  pre::i:y  foot  and 
enticing  airs  of  his  little  favourite  !  But,  for  the  p-re- 
fent,  I  wave  the  fubject,  and,  inflead  of  fevc-:ely  re 
prehending  the  traiiiient  efFufions  of  overweening  fenfi- 
bility,  I  mall  only  obferve,  that  whoever  has  caft  a  be 
nevolent  eye  on  fociety,  mult  often  have  been  gratified 
by  the  fight  of  humble  mutual  love,  not  dignified  by 
fentiment,  nor  ftrengthened  by  a  union  in  intellectual 
purfuits.  The  domeflic  trilies  of  the  day  have  afforded 
matter  for  cheerful  converfe,  and  innocent  carefTes  have 
foftcned  toils  which  did  not  require  great  exercife  of 
mind,  or  flretch  of  thought  :  yet,  has  not  the  fight  of 
this  moderate  felicity  excited  more  tendernels  than  re- 
fpecl?  An  emotion  fimilar  to  what  \ve  feel  when  chil- 
E  2 


42  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

dren  are  playing,  or  animals  fporting*,  whilfl  the  con-. 
tcmplation  of  tile  noble  ftruggles  of  fufFering  merit  has 
i-  led  admiration,  and  carried  our  thoughts  to  that 
world  where  fenfation  will  give  place  to  leafon. 

Women  are,  therefore,  to  be  confide  red  either  as 
moral  beings,  or  fo  weak  that  they  muft  be  entirely 
i.bjededto  the  fuperior  faculties  of  men. 

Let  us  examine  this  queftion.  RoufTeau  declares,"  that 
a  woman  fhculd  never,  for  a  moment,  feel  herfelf  inde 
pendent,  that  me  mould  be  governed  by  fear  to  exer- 
cixe  her  natural  cunning,  and  made  a  coqnetilh  flave  in 
order  to  render  her  a  more  alluring  object  of  deiire, 
z  fvosetcr  companion  to  man,  whenever  he  choofes  to 
relax  himfeif.  He  carries  the  arguments,  which  he 
pretends  to  draw  from  the  indications  of  nature,  ftill 
further,  and  infmuates  that  truth  and  fortitude,  the 
corner  flones  of  all  human  virtue,  mall  be  cultivated 
with  certain  reltriclicns,  becaufe,  with  refpecl:  to  the 
female  character,  obedience  is  the  grand  lefibn  which 
ought  to  be  impreffed  v/ith  unrelenting  rigour. 

What  nonfenfe  I  when  will  a  great  man  arife  with 
fufFicient  ftrength  of  mind  to  puff  away  the  fumes  which 
pride  and*  feniuality  have  thus  fpread  over  the  fubjeol  ! 

*  SimiLir  fedlng*  Las  Mll'.tn  *  pleaftng  pifiure  of  faradif:a:al  lap' 
pinefs  ever  raifid  In  my  mind;  yet,  in  ft  cad  of  envying  ile  lovely  pair,  I 
iWe,  10  :ib  cc-r.fc'.ous  dignity,  or  Satanic  frittc,  turned  to  hell  for  fitbl'nr.er 
oljsfts.  In  tb'fameftylf^w^en  •viewing  fame  noble  incniimtnt  of  I  urn  an 
f  faced  the  etnanallw  of  the  De.'fy  in  the  order  I  cd^ired, 
'ir.v  from  that  p'uL'y  L'eigbtt  I I'fVC  taught  myfclf  ccntcm- 
grinitfi  of  :.-»  bKmantfgbts  -^f or  fancy  ^hll^l^d,  in 
reefffi  ^r.  i,:<ic;.j;  uf  jet  funs,  t  ifingfuftiicr  1o  fnj/'cr.  and 


OF  WOMAN.  43 

If  women  are  by  nature  inferior  to  men,  their  virtues 
muft  be  the  fame  in  quality,  if  not  in  degree,  or  virtue 
is  a  relative  idea  ;  confequently,  their  conduft  mould  be 
founded  on  the  fame  principles,  and  have  the  fame  aim. 

Connecled  with  man  as  daughters,  wives,  and  mo 
thers,  their  moral  character  may  be  eilimated  by  their 
manner  of  fulfilling  thofe  fimple  duties ;  but  the  end, 
the  grand  end  cf  their  exertions  fiiould  be  to  unfold 
their  own  faculties,  and  acquire  the  dignity  of  confcious 
virtue.  They  may  try  to  render  their  road  pleafant  ; 
but  ought  never  to  forget,  in  common  with  man,  that 
life  yields  not  the  felicity  which  can  fatisfy  an  im 
mortal  foul.  I  do  not  mean  to  insinuate,  that  either  fex 
mould  be  fo  loft,  in  abftract  reflections  or  diitant  views, 
as  to  forget  the  affeclions  and  duties  that  lie  before  them, 
and  are,  in  truth,  the  means  appointed  to  produce  the 
fruit  of  life  ;  on  the  contrary,  I  would  warmly  recom 
mend  them,  even  while  I  affert,  that  they  afford  mo  ft 
fatisfa&ion  when  they  are  comlclered  in  their  true 
fabordinate  light. 

Probably  the  prevailing  opinion,  that  woman  was 
created  for  man,  may  have  taken  its  rife  from  Mofes'.s 
poetical  {lory ;  yet,  as  very  few  it  is  prefumed,  who 
have  bellowed  any  ferious  thought  on  the  fubjecl,  ever 
fuppcfed  that  Eve  was,  literally  fpeaking,  one  of  Adam's 
ribs,  the  deduction  muft  be  allowed  to  fall  to  the 
ground ;  or  only  be  fo  fir  admitted  as  it  proves  that 
man,  from  the  remoteft  antiquity,  founl  it  convenient  to 
exert  his  ftrength  to  fubjugate  his  companion,  arid  his 
invention  to  mow  that  ilie  ought  to  have  her  neck  bent 
E3 


44  VINDICATION    OF     THE 

under  the  yoke  ;  becaufe  flie,  as  well  the  brute  creation, 
was  created  to  do  his  pleafure. 

Let  it  not  be  concluded,  that  I  wifli  to  invert  the  order 
of  things  ;  I  have  already  granted,  that,  from  the  coniU- 
tution  of  their  bodies,  men  feem  to  be  defigned  by  Pro 
vidence  to  attain  a  greater  degree  of  virtue.  I  fpeak 
collectively  of  the  whole  fex  ;  but  I  fee  not  the  fhadow 
of  a  reafcn  to  conclude  that  their  virtues  mould  differ 
in  refpedt  to  their  nature.  In  faft,  how  can  they,  if 
virtue  has  only  one  eternal  ftanclard  ?  I  muft,  there 
fore,  if  I  reafon  confequentially,  as  fcrenuoufly  main- 
Tain,  that  they  have  the  fame  iimple  direction,  .as  that 
there  is  a  God. 

It  follows  then,  that  cunning  mould  not  be  oppofed  to 
wifdom,  little  cares  to  great  exertions,  nor  infipid  foft- 
nefs,  varniihed  over  with  the  name  of  gentlenefs,  to 
that  fortitude  which  grand  views  alone  can  infpire. 

I  mall  be  told,  that  woman  would  then  lofe  many  of 
her  peculiar  graces,  and  the  opinion  of  a  well  known 
poet  might  be  quoted  to  refute  my  unqualified  aflertions. 
for  Pope  has  foid,  in  the  name  of  the  whole  male  fex, 

'  Yet  ne'er  Co  furs  oat*  bafjlons  to  create^ 

*  As  lubenjke  toucl ' d  the  brink  of  all  we  hate? 

In  what  light  this  fally  places  men  and  women,  I 
mail  leave  to  the  judicious  to  determine;  meanwhile 
I  mall  content  myfelf  with  obferving,  that  I  cannot 
difcover  why,  unlefs  they  are  mortal,  females  mould 
always  be  degraded  by  being  made  fubfervient  to  love 
or  luft. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  45 

To  fpeak  difrefpe&fully  of  love  Is,  I  know,  high 
treafon  againft  feritiment  and  fine  feelings ;  but  I  wifti 
to  fpeak  the  fimple  language  of  truth,  and  rather  to 
addrefs  the  head  than  the  heart.  To  endeavour  to  rea- 
fon  love  out  of  the  world,  would  be  to  out  Quixote 
Cervantes,  and  equally  offend  againft  common  fenfe  ; 
but  an  endeavour  to  reftrain  this  tumultuous  paffion, 
and  to  prove  that  it  fhould  not  be  allowed  to  de 
throne  fuperior  powers,  or  to  ufurp  the  fceptre  which 
the  underftanding  mould  ever  coolly  wield,  appears 
lefs  wild. 

Youth  is  the  feafon  for  love  in  both  fexes  ;  but  in 
thofe  days  of  thoughtlefs  enjoyment  provifion  mould  be 
made  for  the  more  important  years  of  life,  when  re 
flection  takes  place  of  fenfation.  But  RoufTeau,  and  moil 
of  the  male  writers  who  have  followed  his  fteps,  have 
warmly  inculcated  that  the  whole  tendency  of  female 
education  ought  to  be  directed  to  one  point — to  render 
them  pleafmg. 

Let  rne  reafon  with  the  fupporters  of  this  opinion, 
who  have  any  knowledge  of  human  nature,  do  they 
imagine  that  marriage  can  eradicate  the  habitude  of 
life  ?  The  woman  who  has  only  been  taught  to  pleafe, 
will  foon  find  that  her  charms  are  oblique  fun-beams, 
and  that  they  cannot  have  much  effect  on  her  hufband's 
heart  when  they  are  feen  every  day,  when  the  fummer 
is  paft  and  gone.  Will  me  then  have  fufficient  native 
energy  to  look  into  herfelf  for  comfort,  and  cultivate 
her  dormant  faculties  ?  or,  is  it  not  more  rational  to 
expect,  that  fhe  will  try  to  pleafe  other  men  j  and, 


.46  VINDICATION    OF    THE 


in  the  emotions  raifed  by  the  expectation  of  new  con- 
quefts,  endeavour  to  forget  the  mortification  her  love 
or  pride  has  received  ?  When  the  hufband  ceafes  to 
be  a  lover — and  the  time  will  inevitably  come,  her 
defire  of  pleafing  will  then  grow  languid,  or  become  a 
f|xring  of  bitternefs ;  and  love,  perhaps,  the  moft  eva- 
nefcbnt  of  all  paffions,  gives  place  to  jealoufy  or  vanity* 

I  now  fpeak  of  women  who  are  reftrained  by  princi 
ple  or  prejudice  ;  fuch  women,  though  they  would 
fhrink  from  an  intrigue  with  real  abhorrence,  yet, 
neverthelefs,  wim  to  be  convinced  by  the  homage  of 
"gallantry,  that  they  are  cruelly  neglected  by  their  huf- 
bands  ;  or,  days  and  weeks  are  fpent  in  dreaming  of 
the  happinefs  enjoyed  by  congenial  fouls,  till  the  health 
is  undermined  and  the  fpirits  broken  by  difcontent. 
How  then  can  the  great  art  of  pleafing  be  fuch  a 
neceflkry  ftudy  ?  it  is  only  ufeful  to  a  miftrefs  ;  the 
chaile  wife,  and  ferious  mother,  mould  only  consider 
her  power  to  pleafe  as  the  polifhof  her  virtues,  and  the 
affection  of  her  hulband  as  one  of  the  comforts  that 
render  her  talk  lefs  difficult,  and  her  life  happier.  But, 
whether  me  be  loved  or  neglected,  her  firft  wifh  mould 
be  to  make  herfelf  refpectable,  and  not  to  rely  for  all 
her  happinefs  on  a  being  fubject  to  like  infirmities  with 
herfelf. 

The  amiable  Dr.  Gregory  fell  into  a  fimilar  error. 
I  refpect  his  heart;  but  entirely  difapnrove  of  his  cele 
brated  Legacy  to  his  Daughters. 

He  advifes  them  to  cultivate  a  fondnefs  for.drefs, 
becaufe  a  fondnefs  for  drefs,  he  afferts,  is  natural  to 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  47 

them.  I  am  unable  to  comprehend  what  either  he  or 
Roufleau  mean,  when  they  frequently  ufe  this  indefinite 
term.  If  they  told  us,  that  in  a  pre-exiftent  (late  the 
foul  was  fond  of  drefs,  and  brought  this  inclination 
\viih  it  into  a  new  body,  I  fliould  liften  to  them  with  a 
half  fmile,  as  I  often  do  when  I  hear  a  rant  about  in 
nate  elegance.— —But  if  he  only  meant  to  fay  that  the 
exercife  of  the  faculties  will  produce  this  fondnefs,  I 
deny  it.  It  is  not  a  natural ;  but  arifes,  like  falfe  am 
bition  in  men,  from  a  love  of  power. 

Dr.  Gregory  goes  much  further ;  he  adlually  recom 
mends  diflimulation,  and  advifes  an  innocent  girl  to 
give  the  lie  to  her  feelings,  and  not  dance  with  fpirit' 
when  gaiety  of  heart  would  make  her  feet  eloquent* 
without  making  her  geftures  immodefl.  In  the  name  of 
truth  and  common  fenfe,  why  mould  not  one  woman 
acknowledge  that  me  can  take  more  exercife  than 
another  ?  or,  in  other  words,  that  me  has  a  found  con- 
fUtution ;  and  why,  to  damp  innocent  vivacity,  is  (lie 
darkly  to  be  told,  that  men  will  draw  conclufions  which 
me  little  thinks  of? — Let  the  libertine  draw  what  in 
ference  he  pleafes  ;  but,  I  hope,  that  no  fenfible  mother 
will  reftrain  the  natural  franknefs  of  youth,  by  inftil- 
ling  fuch  indecent  cautions.  Out  of  the  abundance  of  the 
heart  the  mouth  fpeaketh  ;  and  a  wifer  than  Solomon 
hath  faid,  that  the  heait  mould  be  made  clean,  and  not 
trivial  ceremonies  obferved,  which  it  is  not  very  diffi 
cult  to  fulfil  with  fcrupulous  exaftnefs  when  vice  reigns 
in  the  heart. 

Women  ought  to  endeavour  to   purify  their  hearts  ; 


48  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

but  can  they  do  fo  when  their  uncultivated  underfland- 
ings  make  them  entirely  dependent  on  their  ienles  for 
employment  and  amufement,  when  no  noble  purfuits  fets 
them  above  the  little  vanities  of  the  day,  or  enables 
them  to  curb  the  wild  emotions  that  agitate  a  reed  over 
which  every  paffing  breeze  has  power  ?  To  gain  the 
affections  of  a  virtuous  man,  is  affectation  neceffary  ? 
Nature  has  given  woman  a  weaker  frame  than  man ; 
but,  to  enfure  her  hufbana's  afieclions,  rnuft  a  wife,  who, 
by  the  exercife  of  her  mind  and  body,  whillt  ihe  was 
difcharging  the  duties  of  a  daughter,  wife,  and  mother, 
has  allowed  her  confutation  to  retain  its  natural 
ftrength,  and  her  nerves  a  healthy  tone,  is  fhe,  I  fay,  to 
condefcend,  to  ufe  art,  and  feign  a  fickly  delicacy,  in 
order  to  fecure  her  hufband!s  affection  ?  Weaknefs  may 
excite  tendernefs,  and  gratify  the  arrogant  pride  of  man  ; 
but  the  lordlefs  careffes  of  a  protector  will  not  gratify  a 
noble  mind  that  pants  for,  and  deferves  to  be  refpecled, 
Fondnefs  is  a  poor  fubftitute  for  friendihip  ! 

In  a  feraglio,  I  grant  that  ail  thefe  arts  are  necefiary ; 
the  epicure  mud  have  his  palate  tickled,  or  he  will 
fink  into  apathy;  but  have  women  fo  little  ambition  as 
to  be  fatisfied  with  fuch  a  condition  ?  Can  they  fupinely 
dream  life  away  in  the  lap  of  pleafare,  or  the  languor 
of  wearinefs,  rather  than  aiTert  their  claim  to  purfue 
reafonable  pleafures,  and  render  themfelves  confpicuous, 
by  praclifmg  the  virtues  which  dignify  mankind  ? 
Surely  me  has  not  an  immortal  foul  who  can  loiter  life 
away,  merely  employed  to  adorn  her  perfon,  that  me 
may  amufe  the  languid  hours,  and  foften  the  cares  of  a 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  49 

fellow-creature  who  is  willing  to  be  enlivened  by  her 
fmiles  and  tricks,  when  the  ferious  buiinefs  of  life  is  over. 

Befides,  the  woman  who  ftrengthens  her  body  and 
exercifes  her  mind  will,  by  managing  her  family  and 
pra&ifmg  various  virtues,  become  the  friend,  and  not 
the  humble  dependent  of  her  hufband,  and  if  me  de- 
fervss  his  regard  by  polTelTmg  fuch  fabftantial  qualities, 
(he  will  not  find  it  necefTary  to  conceal  her  affection, 
nor  to  pretend  to  an  unnatural  coldnefs  of  conilitutionto 
excite  her  huiband's  paffions.  In  fact,  if  we  revert  to 
hiilory,  we  ihall  iind  that  the  women  who  have  diftin- 
guifhed  themfelves  Have  neither  been  ihe  moil  beautiful 
nor  the  mofc  gentle  or  their  fax, 

Nature,  or  to  fpeak  with  Uriel  propriety  God,  has 
made  all  things  rig  lit ;  but  mm  hus  fought  him  out 
many  inventions  to  mar  the  work.  I  now  allude  to  that 
part  of  Dr.  Gregory's  treatiie,  where  he  advifes  a  wife 
never  to  let  her  hulband  know  the  extent  of  her  fenfibi- 
lity  or  affection.  Voluptuous  precaution,  and  as  ineffec 
tual  as  abfard. — Love,  from  its  very  nature,  muft  be 
tranlitory.  To  feek  for  a  fecret  that  would  render  it 
conflant,  would  be  as  wild  a  iearch  as  for  the  philofo- 
pher's  ftone,  or  the  grand  panacea  ;  and  the  difcovery 
would  be  equally  u/elefs,  or  rather  pernicious  to  man 
kind.  The  moft  holy  band  of  fociety  is  f/iendfhip.  It 
has  been  well  (aid,  by  a  flirewd  fatirift,  '*  that  rare  as 
true  love  is,  true  friendmip  is  iHll  rarer" 

This  is  an  obvious  truth,  andthecaufe  not  lying  deep, 
will  not  eluck  a  flight  glance  of  inquiry. 

Love,  the  common  pafiion,  in  which  chance  and  fen- 


5<3  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

fation  take  place  of  choice  and  reafon,  is,  in  fome  de 
gree,  felt  by  the  mafs  of  mankind  ;  for  it  is  not  necef- 
fary  to  fpeak,  at  prefent,  of  the  emotions  that  rife  above 
or  fmk  below  love.  This  paffion,  naturally  increafed  by 
fufpenfe  and  difficulties,  draws  the  mind  out  of  its  ac- 
cuflomed  ftate,  and  exalts  the  afte&ions ;  but  the  fecu- 
rity  of  marriage,  allowing  the  fever  of  love  to  fublicle, 
a  healthy  temperature  i?  thought  infipid,  only  by  thofe 
who  have  not  fufficient  intellect  to  fubftitute  the  calm 
tendernefs  of  friendfhip,  the  confidence  of  refpeft,  in- 
ftead  of  blind  admiration,  and  the  fenfual  emotions  of 
fondnefs. 

This  is,  muft  be,  the  courfe  of  nature — friendmip  or 
indifference  inevitably  fucceeds  love. — And  this  confti- 
tution  feems  perfectly  to  harmonize  with  the  fyftem  of 
government  which  prevails  in  the  moral  world.  Paf- 
fions  are  fours  to  action,  and  open  the  mind;  but  they 
fmk  into  mere  appetites,  become  a  perfonal  and  mo 
mentary  gratification,  when  the  object  is  gained,  and  the 
fatisfied  mind  refts  in  enjoyment.  The  man  who  had 
fome  virtue  whilft  he  was  ftru^gling  for  a  crown,  often 
becomes  a  voluptuous  tyrant  when  it  graces  his  brow  ; 
and,  when  the  lover  is  not  loft  in  the  hufband,  the  do 
tard,  a  prey  to  childifh  caprices,  and  fond  jealoufies, 
negleds  the  ferious  duties  of  life,  and  the  careffes  which 
mould  excite  confidence  in  his  children  are  lavifhed  on 
the  overgrown  child,  his  wife. 

In  order  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  life,  and  to  be  able  to 
purfue  with  vigour  the  various  employments  which  form 
the  moral  character,  a  mailer  and  jniftrefs  of  a  family 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  51 

ought  not  to  continue  to  love  each  other  with  pailion. 
I  mean  to  fay,  that  they  ought  not  to  indulge  thofe 
emotions  which  diflurb  the  order  of  fociety,  and  engrofs 
the  thoughts  that  mould  be  otherwife  employed.  The 
mind  that  has  never  been  engrofied  by  one  object  wants 
vigour — if  it  can  long  be  fo,  it  is  weak. 

A  miilaken  education,  a  narrow,  uncultivated  mind, 
and  many  fexual  prejudices,  tend  to  make  women  more 
conftant  than  men;  but,  for  the  prefent,  I  {hall  not 
touch  on  this  branch  of  the  (abject.  I  will  go  flill  fur 
ther,  and  advance,  without  dreaming  of  a  paradox,  that 
an  unhappy  marriage  is  often  very  advantageous  to  a  fa 
mily,  and  that  the  negle&ed  wife  is,  in  general,  the  bell 
mother.  And  this  would  almeil  always  be  the  confe- 
quence,  if  the  female  mind  was  more  enlarged :  for,  it 
feems  to  be  the  common  difpenfation  of  Providence, 
that  what  we  gain  in  prefent  enjoyment  mould  be  de- 
dueled  from  the  treasure  of  life,  experience;  and  that 
when  we  are  gathering  the  flowers  of  the  day  and  revel 
ling  in  pleafure,  the  folid  fruit  of  toil  and  wifdom  mould 
not  be  caught  at  the  fame  time.  The  way  lies  before 
us,  we  muft  turn  to  the  right  or  left;  and  he  who  will 
pafs  life  away  in  bounding  from  one  pleafure  to  another, 
mull:  not  complain  if  he  neither  acquires  wifdom  nor  re- 
fpeclability  of  character. 

Suppofing,  for  a  moment,  that  the  foul  is  not  immor 
tal,  aad  that  man  was  only  created  for  the  prefent  fcene, 
— I  think  we  mould  have  reufon  to  complain  that  love, 
inf  .ntins  foninefs,  ever  grew  infipid  and  palled  upon 
the  fenfe.  Let  us  eat,  drink,  and  love,  for  to-morrow 
F 


52  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

we  die,  would  be,  in  feel,  the  language  of  reafon,  the 
morality  of  life ;  and  who  but  a  fool  would  part  with  a 
reality  for  a  fleeting  fhadow  ?  But,  if  awed  by  obferving 
the  improvable  powers  of  the  mind,  we  difdain  to  con 
fine  our  w ifhes  or  thoughts  to  fuch  a  comparatively 
mean  field  of  aclion;  that  only  appears  grand  and  im 
portant,  as  it  is  connected  with  a  boundlefs  profpedl  and 
fublime  hopes,  what  neceffity  is  there  for  falfehood  in 
condudt,  and  why  muft  the  facred  majefty  of  truth  be 
violated  to  detain  a  deceitful  good  that  faps  the  very 
foundation  of  virtue?  Why  muft  the  female  mind  be 
tainted  by  coquetifh  arts  to  gratify  the  fenfualift,  and 
prevent  love  from  lubliding  inco  friendfhip,  or  compaf- 
ijonate  tendeinefs,  when  there  are  not  qualities  on  which 
friendfnip  can  be  built?  Let  the  honell  heart  mew  itfelf, 
and  rcaj'on  teach  pafiion  to  fubmit  to  neceflity;  or,  let 
the  dignified  puriuit  of  virtue  and  knowledge  raife  the 
mind  above  taofe  emotions  which  rather  imbitter  than 
fweeten  the  cup  of  life,  when  they  are  not  reftrained 
within  due  bounds. 

I  do  not  meun  to  allude  to  the  romantic  paflion,  which 
is  tiie  concomitant  of  genius.— Who  can  clip  its  wing? 
Bat  that  grand  paffion  not  proportioned  to  the  puny  en 
joyments  of  life,  is  only  true  to  the  fentiment,  and  feeds 
on  ufelf.  The  puiTiuns  which  have  been  celebrated  for 
their  durability  hnve  always  been  unfortunate.  They 
have  acquired  lirength  by  ablence  and  conftitutional 
i:  .  1  nchuiy — The  fancy  has  hovered  round  a  fojnvof 
bcr.aty  dirrly  feer — but  Lmiliarity  might  have  turned 
^ciun  mto  du^uilj  or,  at  ie«^l,  into  ijudiiference, 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  53 

and  allowed  the  imagination  leifure  to  Hart  fVefli  game. 
With  perfect  propriety,  according  to  this  view  of  things, 
does  RoufTeau  make  the  miftrefs  of  his  foul,  Eloifa,  love 
St.  Preux,  when  life  was  fading  before  her;  but  this  is 
no  proof  of  the  immortality  of  the  paffion. 

Of  the  fame  complexion  is  Dr.  Gregory's  advice  re- 
fpefting  delicacy  of  fentiment,  which  he  advifes  a  wo 
man  not  to  acquire,  if  me  has  determined  to  marry. 
This  determination,  however,  perfectly  confident  with 
his  former  advice,  he  calls  indelicate,  and  earneftly  per- 
fuades  his  daughters  to  conceal  it,  though  it  may  go 
vern  their  conducl :  as  if  it  were  indelicate  to  have  the 
common  appetites  of  human  nature. 

Noble  morality !  and  confident  with  the  cautious  pru 
dence  of  a  little  foul  that  cannot  extend  its  views  be 
yond  the  prefent  minute  divifion  of  exiftence.  If  all  the 
faculties  of  woman's  mind  are  only  to  be  cultivated  as 
they  refpecl  her  dependence  on  man;  if,  when  {he  obtains 
a  hulband  me  has  arrived  at  her  goal,  and  meanly  proud, 
is  fatisfied  with  fuch  a  paltry  crown,  let  her  grovel  con 
tentedly,  fcarcely  raifed  by  her  employments  above  the 
animal  kingdom  ;  but,  if  me  is  ftruggling  for  the  prize 
of  her  high  calling,  let  her  cultivate  her  underftanding 
without  Hopping  to  confider  what  character  the  huiband 
may  have  whom  me  is  deilined  to  marry.  Let  her  only 
determine,  without  being  too  anxious  about  prefent  hap- 
pinefs,  to  acquire  the  qualities  that  ennoble  a  rational 
being,  and  a  rough  inelegant  huflxmd  may  Ihock  her 
taile  without  deftroying  her  peace  of  mind.  She  wii^ 
not  model  her  foul  to  fuit  the  frailties  of  her  companioisT 
F  2 


54  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

but  to  bear  with  them:  ms  chara&er  may  be  a  trial,  but 
not  an  impediment  to  virtue. 

If  Dr.  Gregory  confined  his  remark  to  romantic  ex 
pectations  of  conftant  love  and  congenial  feelings,  he 
Ihould  have  recollected,  that  experience  will  baniih  what 
advice  can  never  make  us  ceafe  to  wifh  for,  when  the 
imagination  is  kept  alive  at  the  expence  of  reafon. 

I  own  it  frequently  happens,  that  women  who  have 
foflered  a  romantic  unnatural  delicacy  of  feeling,  wafte 
their*  lives  in  imagining  how  happy  they  fhoald  have 
been  with  a  huiband  who  could  love  them  with  a  fervid 
increafmg  affeftion  every  day,  and  all  day.  But  they 
might  as  well  pine  married  as  fingle — and  would  not  be 
a  jot  more  unhappy  with  a  bad  huiband  than  longing 
for  a  good  one.  That  a  proper  education ;  or,  to  fpeak 
with  more  preciiion,  a  well  ftored  mind,  would  enable 
a  woman  to  fupport  a  fingle  life  with  dignity,  I  grant; 
but  that  ine  Ihould  avoid  cultivating  her  taile,  left  her 
huiband  mould  occafionally  (hock  it,  is  quitting  a  fub- 
ilance  for  a  fhadow.  To  fay  the  truth,  I  do  not  know 
of  what  ufe  is  an  improved  tafte,  if  the  individual  is  not 
rendered  more  independent  of  the  cafualties  of  life;  if 
new  fources  of  enjoyment,  only  dependent  on  the  foli- 
tary  operations  of  the  mind,  are  not  opened.  People 
of  tafte,  married  or  fingle,  without  diflindion,  will  ever 
be  difgufted  by  various  things  that  touch  not  lefs  ob- 
ferving  minds.  On  this  conclufion  the  argument  muft 
not  be  allowed  to  hinge;  but  in  the  whole  furn  of  en 
joyment  is  tafte  to  be  denominated  a  bleiTmg? 

*   for  example ;  the  herd  of  novtlifts. 


RIGHTS 'OF  WOMAN.  55 

The  queftion  is,  whether  it  procures  moft  pain  or 
pleafure?  The  anfwer  will  decide  the  propriety  of  Dr. 
Gregory's  advice,  and  {hew  how  abfurd  and  tyrannic  it 
is  thus  to  lay  down  a  fyflem  of  flavery ;  or  to  attempt  to 
educate  moral  beings  by  any  other  rules  than  thofe  de 
duced  from  pure  reafon,  which  apply  to  the  whole  fpecies. 

Gentlenefs  of  manners,  forbearance,  and  long-fuffer- 
ing,  are  fuch  amiable  Godlike  qualities,  that  in  Hibiirne 
poetic  ftrains  the  Deity  has  been  inverted  with  them ; 
and,  perhaps,  no  reprefentation  of  his  goodnefs  fo 
ftrongly  fattens  on  the  human  affections  as  thofe  that 
represent  him  abundant  in  mercy  and  willing  to  pardon. 
Gentlenefs,  confidered  in  this  point  of  view,  bears  on 
its  front  all  the  charadleriftics  of  grandeur,  combined 
with  the  winning  graces  of  condefceniion ;  but  what  a 
different  afpeft  it  aiTumes  when  it  is  the  fubmiffive  de 
meanour  of  dependence,  the  fupport  of  weaknefs  that 
loves,  becaufe  it  wants  protection;  and  is  forbearing, 
becaufe  it  muft  filently  endure  injuries;  fmiiing  under 
the  lain  at  which  it  dare  not  fnarl.  Abjedt  as  this  pic 
ture  appears,  it  is  the  portrait  of  an  accomplimed  wo 
man,  according  to  the  received  opinion  of  female  excel 
lence,  feparated  by  fpecious  reafoners  from  human  ex* 
cellence.  Or,  they  *  kindly  reftore  the  rib,  and  make, 
one  moral  being  of  a  m:m  and  woman;  not  forgetting 
to  give  her  all  the  e  fubmiffive  charms.* 

How  women  are  to  exift  in  that  fbte  where  there  is 
to  be  neither  mawying  nor  giving  in  marriage*  we  are 

*    Vidt  Roseau i  afid  Swsilenborg* 
£3 


56  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

not  told.  For  though  moralifts  have  agreed,  that  the 
tenor  of  life  feems  to  prove  that  man  is  prepared  by  vari 
ous  circumrtances  for  a  future  Mate,  they  conftantly  con 
cur  in  'advifmg  woman  only  to  provide  for  the  prefent. 
Gentlenefs,  docility,  and  a  fpaniel-like  affection  are,  on 
this  ground,  confidently  recommended  as  the  cardinal 
virtues  of  the  fex;  and,  disregarding  the  arbitrary  eco 
nomy  of  nature,  one  writer  has  declared  that  it  is  maf- 
cuHne  for  a  woman  to  be  melancholy.  She  was  created 
to  be  the  toy  of  man,  his  rattle,  and  it  muft  jingle  in 
his  ears  whenever,  difmiffing  reafon,  he  choofes  to  be 
amufed. 

To  recommend  gentlenefs,  indeed,  on  a  broad  bafis 
is  flrictly  philosophical.  A  frail  being  mould  labour  to 
be  gentle.  But  when  forbearance  confounds  right  and 
wrong,  it  ceafes  to  be  a  virtue;  and,  however  conveni 
ent  i't  may  be  found  in  a  companion — that  companion 
will  ever  be  confidered  as  an  inferior,  and  only  infpire 
a  vapid  tcndernefs,  which  eafily  degenerates  into  con 
tempt.  Still,  if  advice  could  really  make  a  being  gen 
tle,  \vhofe  natural  difpoiidon  admitted  not  of  fuch  a  fine 
,  fomething  towards  the  advancement  of  order 
I  be  attained ;  .but  if,  as  might  quickly  be  demon- 
frratcd,  only  affectation  be  produced  by  this  indifcrimi- 
nate  counfel,  which  throws  a  rtumbling-block  in  the  way 
of  gradual  improvement,  and  true  melioration  of  tem 
per,  the  fex  is  not  much  benefited  by  facrincing  folid 
virtues  to  the  attainment  of  fuperiicial^races,  though  for 
a  few  years  they  may  procure  the  individuals  regal  fway. 

As  a  philofopher,  I  read  with  indignation  the  plau- 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN".  57 

fible  epithets  which  men  ufe  to  foften  their  infults;  and, 
as  a  moralift,  I  aik  what  is  meant  by  fuch  heteroge 
neous  aflbciations,  as  fair  defects,  amiable  weakneffes, 
&c.?  If  there  is  but  one  criterion  of  morals,  but  one 
arche-type  for  man,  women  appear  to  be  fufpended  by 
deAiny,  according  to  the  vulgar  tale  of  Mahomet's  cof 
fin  ;  they  have  neither  the  unerring  inilinct  of  brutes, 
nor  are  allowed  to  fix  the  eye  of  reafon  on  a  perfect  mo 
del.  They  were  made  to  be  loved,  and  muil  not  aim 
at  refpect,  left  they  mould  be  hunted  out  of  fociety  as 
mafculine. 

But  to  view  the  fubject  in  another  point  of  view.  Do 
paflive  indolent  women  make  the  beft  wives?  Confining 
our  difcuiTion  to  the  prefent  moment  of  exiflence,  let  us 
fee  how  fuch  weak  creatures  perform  their  part  ?  Do  the 
women  who.,  by  the  attainment  of  a  few  fuperficial  ac- 
complifhments,  have  ftrengthened  the  prevailing  pre 
judice,  merely  contribute  to  the  happinefs  of  their  huf- 
bands?  Do  they  difplay  their  charms  merely  to  amufe 
them?  And  have  women,  who  have  early  imbibed  no 
tions  of  paflive  obedience,  fufficient  character  to  manage 
a  family  or  educate  children?  So  far  from  it,  that,  after 
furvcying  the  hifiory  of  woman,  I  cannot  help,  agree 
ing  with  the  fevereit  fatirift,  considering  the  fex  as  the 
werAeil  as  well  as  the  moil  opprefled  half  of  the  fpecies. 
What  does  hiftory  difclofe  but  marks  of  inferiority,  and 
how  few  women  have  emancipated  themfelves  from  the 
galling  yoke  of  fovereign  man? — So  few,  that  the  ex 
ceptions  remind  me  of  an  ingenious  conjecture  refpect- 
ing  Newton:  that  he  was  probably  a  being  of  a  fuperior 


58  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

order,  accidentally  caged  in  a  human  body.  In  the 
fame  ftyle  I  have  been  led  to  imagine  that  the  few  ex 
traordinary  women  who  have  rulhed  in  eccentrical  di 
rections  out  of  the  orbit  prefcribed  to  their  fex,  were 
male  fpirited,  confined  by  miftake  in  a  female  frame. 
But  if  it  be  not  philofophical  to  think  of  fex  when  the 
foul  is  mentioned,  the  inferiority  mult  depend  on  the  or 
gans;  or  the  heavenly  fire,  which  is  to  ferment  the  clay, 
is  not  given  in  equal  portion?. 

" '  But  avoiding,  as  I  have  hitherto  done,  any  direct 
comparifon  of  the  two  fexes  colleftively,  or  frankly  ac 
knowledging  the  inferiority  of  woman,  according  to  the 
prefent  appearance  of  things,  I  mall  only  infift,  that  men 
have  increafed  that  inferiority  till  women  are  almoil 
funk  below  the  ftandard  of  rational  creatures.  Let  their 
faculties  have  room  to  unfold,  and  their  virtues  to  gain 
flrength,  and  then  determine  where  the  whole  fex  mull 
ftand  in  the  intelleclual  fc:Je.  Yet,  Jet  it  be  remem 
bered,  that  for  a  frnall  number  of  diilmguimed  women 
I  do  not  afk  a  place. 

It  is  difficult  for  us  purblind  mortals  to  fay  to  what 
height  human  discoveries  and  improvements  may  arrive, 
when  the  gloom  of  defpotifrn  fubfides,  which  makes  us 
flumble  at  every  Hep ;  but  when  morality  mall  be  fettled 
on  a  more  folid  bails,  then,  without  being  gifted  with 
a  prophetic  fpirit,  I  will  venture  to  predict,  that  woman 
will  be  either  the  friend  or  {lave  cf  man.  We  (hall  not, 
as  at  prefent,  dov-n  whether  ftie  is  a  mortal  agent,  or 
the  link  which  unii.es  mr.n  with  brutes.  But,  mould  it 
then  appear,  that  like  the  brutes  they  were  principally 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN'.  59 

created  for  the  ufe  of  man,  he  will  let  them  patiently 
bite  the  bridle,  and  not  mock  diem  with  empty  praife; 
or,  fliould  their  rationality  be  proved,  he  will  not  im 
pede  their  improvement  merely  to  ^.uify  his  fenfual 

appetites.  He  will  not  v, ices  of  rhetoric, 

advife  them  to  fabmit  imp'  landings  to 

the  guidance  of  man.  II~  vvi  -en  he  treats  of 

the  education  of  women,  after t,  t;.  .Light  never 

to  have  the  free  ufe  of  reaibn,  no:  w  .....  he  recommend 
cunning  an.:  )  are  acquiring* 

in  like  manner  as  himfelf,  the  virtues  of  humanity. 

Surely  there  can  be  but  one  rule  of  right:,  if  morality 
has  an  eternal  foundation,  and  whoever  faoiinces  virtue, 
flriclly  fo  called,  to  prefent  convenience,  or  whofe  duty 
it%is  to  ail  in  fuch  a  manner,  lives  only  for  the  paffing 
day,  and  cannot  be  an  accountable  creature. 

The  poet  then  mould  have  dropped  his  fneer  when 
he  fays, 

' '   If  tvcak  women  go  ajlray , 

"    Tbeftars  are  more  in  fault  than  tfayi" 

For  that  they  are  bound  by  the  adamantine  chain  of  def- 
tiny  is  moil  certain,  if  it  be  proved  that  they  are  never 
to  exercife  their  own  reafon,  never  to  be  independent, 
never  to  rife  above  opinion,  or  to  feel  the  dignity  of  a 
rational  will  that  only  bows  to  God,  and  often  forgets 
that  the  univerfe  contains  any  being  but  itfelf,  and  the 
model  of  perfection  to  which  its  ardent  gaze  is  turned, 
to  adore  attributes  that,  foftened  into  virtues,  may  be 
imitated  in  kind,  though  the  degree  overwhelms  the 
enraptured  mind. 


6O  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

If,  I  fay,  for  I  would  not  imprefs  by  declamation 
when  Reafon  offers  her  fober  light,  if  they  are  really 
capable  of  acting  like  rational  creatures,  let  them  not  be 
treated  like  flaves ;  or,  like  the  brutes  who  are  depend 
ent  on  the  reafon  of  man,  when  they  affociate  with  him ; 
but  cultivate  their  minds,  give  them  the  falutary,  fub- 
lime  curb  of  principle,  and  let  them  attain  confcious 
dignity  by  feeling  themfelves  only  dependent  on  God. 
Teach  them,  in  common  with  man,  to  fubmit  to  necef- 
iity,  inftead  of  giving,  to  render  them  more  pleafmg,  a 
fex  to  morals. 

Further,  ftiould  experience  prove  that  they  cannot  att 
tain  the  fame  degree  of  itrength  of  mind,  perfeverance, 
and  fortitude,  let  their  virtues  be  the  fame  in  kind, 
though  they  may  vainly  ftruggle  for  the  fame  degree; 
and  the  fuperiority  of  man  will  be  equally  clear,  if  not 
clearer;  and  truth,  as  it  is  a  fimple  principle,  which  ad- 
mits  of  no  modification,  would  be  common  to  both.  Nay, 
the  order  of  fociety,  as  it  is  at  prefent  regulated,  would 
not  be  inverted,  for  woman  would  then  only  have  the 
rank  that  reafon  affigned  her,  and  arts  could  not  be  prac- 
tifed  to  bring  the  balance  even,  much  lefs  to  turn  it. 

Thefe  may  be  termed  Utopian  dreams.—  Thanks  to 
that  Being  who  imprefied  them  on  my  foul,  and  gave 
me  fufficient  ftrength  of  mind  to  dare  to  exert  my  own 
reafon,  till,  becoming  dependent  only  on  him  for  the 
fupport  of  my  virtue,  I  view,  with  indignation,  the  mif- 
taken  notions  that  enflave  my  fex. 

I  love  man  as  my  fellow  ;  but  his  fcepter,  real  or 
ufurped,  extends  not  to  me,  unlefs  the  reafon  of  an  in- 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  6l 

dividual  demands  my  homage  ;  and  even  then  the  fub- 
miffion  is  to  reafon,  and  not  to  man.  In  fad,  the  con 
duct  of  an  accountable  being  muft  be  regulated*  by  the 
operations  of  its  own  reafon ;  or  on  what  foundation 
refts  the  throne  of  God  ? 

It  appears  to  me  neceflary  to  dwell  on  thefe  obvious 
truths,  becaufe  females  have  been  infulted,  as  it  were  ; 
and,  while  they  have  been  {tripped  of  the  virtues  that 
ihould  clothe  humanity,  they  have  been  decked  with 
artificial  graces,  that  enable  them  to  exercife  a  Ihort- 
lived  tyranny.  Love,  in  their  bofoms,  taking  place  of 
every  nobler  paffion,  their  fole  ambition  is  to  be  fair, 
to  raife  emotion  inftead  of  infpiring  refpect  j  and  this 
ignoble  defire,  like  the  fervility  in  abfolute  monarchies, 
deftroys  all  ftrength  of  character.  Liberty  is  the  mother 
of  virtue,  and  if  women  are,  by  their  very  conftitution, 
flaves,  and  not  allowed  to  breathe  the  fharp  invigor 
ating  air  of  freedom,  they  muil  ever  languifh  like  exotics, 
and  be  reckoned  beautiful  flaws  in  nature  ; — :et  it  alfo 
be  remembered,  that  they  are  the  only  flaw. 

As  to  the  argument  refpecting  the  fubjection  in  which 
the  fex  has  ever  been  held,  it  retorts  on  man.  The  many 
have  always  been  enthralled  by  the  few ;  and,  monfters 
who  have  fcarcely  mown  any  difcernment  of  human 
excellence,  have  tyrannized  over  thoufands  of  their  fel 
low  creatures.  Why  have  men  of  fuperior  endowments 
fubmitted  to  fuch  degradation  ?  For,  is  it  not  univer- 
fally  acknowledged  that  kings,  viewed  collectively, 
have  ever  been  inferior,  in  abilities  and  virtue,  to  the 
fame  number  of  men  taken  from  the  common  mafs  of 


62  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

mankind — yet,  have  they  not,  and  are  they  not  flill 
treated  with  a  degree  of  reverence,  that  is  an  infult  to 
reafon  ?  China  is  not  the  only  country  where  a  living 
man  has  been  made  a  God.  Men  have  fubmitted  to  fu- 
perior  ftrength,  to  enjoy  with  impunity  the  pleafure  of 
the  moment — nuonftn  have  only  done  the  fame,  and 
therefore  till  it  is  proved  that  the  courtier,  who  fervilely 
refigns  the  birthright  of  a  man,  is  not  a  moral  agent,  it 
cannot  be  demonftrated  that  woman  is  eflentially  infe 
rior  to  man,  becaufe  fhe  has  always  been  fubjugated. 

Brutal  force  has  hitherto  governed  the  world,  and 
that  the  fcience  of  politics  is  in  its  infancy,  is  evident 
from  philofophers  fcrupJing  to  give  the  knowledge  molt 
ufeful  to  man  that  determinate  diftindlion. 

I  mall  not  purfue  this  argument  any  further  than  to 
eflablifh  an  obvious  inference,  that  as  found  politics 
difFufe  liberty,  mankind,  including  woman,  will  become 
more  wife  and  virtuous. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  63 

CHAP.    Ill, 

The  fame  fubjett  continued. 

JLJODILY  itrength  from  being  the  diiUnclion  of  he 
roes  is  now  funk  into  fuch  unmerited  contempt,  that 
men,  as  well  as  women,  feem  to  think  it  unnocefiary  : 
the  latter,  as  it  takes  from  their  feminine  graces,  and  from 
that  lovely  weaknefs,  the  fource  of  their  undue  power  ; 
and  the  former,  becaufe  it  appears  inimical  with  the 
character  of  a  gentleman. 

That  they  have  both  by  departing  from  one  extreme 
run  into  another,  may  eaiily  be  proved ;  but  it  firil  may 
be  proper  to  obferve,  that  a  vulgar  error  has  obtained  a 
degree  of  credit,  which  has  given  force  to  a  falfe  con- 
clufion,  in  which  an  effect  has  been  miftaken  for  acaufe. 

People  of  genius  have,  very  frequently,  impaired 
their  confutations  by  ftudy,  or  carelefs  inattention  to 
their  health,  and  the  violence  of  their  paffions  bearing 
a  proportion  to  the  vigour  of  their  intellects,  the  fxvord's 
deflroying  the  fcabbard  has  become  almoft  proverbial, 
and  fuperficial  obfervers  have  inferred  from  thence,  that 
men  of  genius  have  commonly  weak,  or  to  ufe  a  more 
fafhionable  phrafe,  delicate  conftitutions.  Yet  the  con 
trary,  I  believe,  will  appear  to  be  the  facl: ;  for,  on  dili 
gent  inquiry,  I  find  that  ftrength  of  mind  has,  in  moil 
cafes,  been  accompanied  by  fuperior  ftrength  of  body — 
natural  foundnefs  of  conftitution — not  that  robuft  tone 
of  nerves  and  vigour  of  mufcles,  which  arife  from  bo- 
G 


64  VINDICATION    OF    THJ? 

dily  labour,  when  the  mind  is  quiefcent,  or  only  directs 
the  hands. 

Dr.  Prieftley  has  remarked,  in  the  preface  to  his  bio 
graphical  chart,  that  the  majority  of  great  men  have 
lived  beyond  forty-five.  And,  considering  the  thought- 
lefs  manner  in  which  they  have  laviflied  their  ilrength, 
when  invelligating  a  favourite  fcience  they  have  walled 
the  lamp  of  life,  forgetful  of  the  midnight  hour ;  or, 
when  loll  in  poetic  dreams,  fancy  has  peopled  the  fcene, 
and  the  foul  has  been  difcurbed,  till  it  ihook  the  confli- 
tution,  by  the  paffions  that  meditation  had  raifed  ; 
whofe  objects,  the  bafelefs  fabric  of  a  vifion,  faded  be 
fore  the  exhaufted  eye,  they  muft  have  had  iron  frames. 
Shakefpeare  never  grafped  the  airy  dagger  with  a  nerve- 
lefs  hand,  nor  did  Milton  tremble  when  he  led  Satan 
far  from  the  confines  of  his  dreary  prifon . — Thefe  were 
not  the  ravings  of  imbecility,  the  fickly  effufions  of  dif- 
tempered  brains  ;  but  the  exuberance  of  fancy,  that 
4  in  a  fine  phrenzy'  wandering,  was  not  continually  re 
minded  of  its  material  fhackles. 

I  am  aware,  that  this  argument  would  carry  me  fur 
ther  than  it  may  be  fuppofed  I  wilh  to  go  j  but  I  follow 
truth,  and  Hill  adhering  to  my  firfl  pofition,  I  will  al 
low  that  bodily  Ilrength  feems  to  give  man  a  natural  fu- 
periority  over  woman  ;  and  this  is  the  only  folid  bafis 
on  which  the  fupericrity  of  the  fex  can  be  built.  But  I 
Hill  infill,  that  not  only  the  virtue,  but  the  knowledge  of. 
the  two  fexes  mould  be  the  fame  in  nature,  if  not  in  de 
gree,  and  that  women,  confidered  not  only  as  moral, 
but  rational  creatures,  ought  to  endeavour  to  acquire 


RIGHTS  OF   WOMAN. 


human  virtues  (or  perfections)  by  the  fame  means  as 
men,  inftead  of  being  educated  like  a  fanciful  kind  of 
half  being  —  one  of  RouiTeau's  wild  chimeras.* 


*  '  Researches  Into  abflraSl  and  fpeculative  truibs^  th;  principles  and 
f  axioms  of  fcicnceSf  in  Jhot't  ,  every  thing  ivhicb  tends  to  generalize  ctir 
'  ideas-,  is  not  the  proper  province  of  women  ;  their  ftudics  Jlould  be 
'  relative  to  points  of  praRice  ,  it  belong:  to  them  to  apply  thofe  princi- 

*  pies  ivuicb  men  have  discovered  \   and  it    Is  their  part  io  make  Gltfcrvz- 

*  tionst   "which  direft  men  to  the  ejlablijbiscitl  of  general  principles.      All 

*  the  ideas  of  women,   ivhich  have  net  the   immediate   tendency    to  points 
of  duty,  Jhould  be  direffed  to  the  Jludy  of  wen,   end  to  the   aitaiw.tnf. 
ef  thofe  agreeable  accotnplifatti  r.ts  ir/!.  V/v    have   t-J:c  for    their   object  \ 

*  for  as  to  work;  ef  gtnius,  tLt\  ate  l-y,nJ  their  t*:*>c.:ii-\>  .-    neither  Lav- 
1  they  fujficient  pte;.ifx:n>    or  pLivsr    vf  atttitticnt    t»fuceeetiznfiitttcff 

*  wbicL  restart.  accuracy  :  and  jt  i-->  ^  '  '•  ,  ,.••-'••-'  •'•'--  -'  '-  •'•,[<•'    it 
t'jofe    only  <n.;l-o  are    Kiojl    <i£ii"ve,     :>~'fi  inaitijiiivf  ;     • 

«  the   greatc/1  variety  ef  otjsfls  :   in  fart,   it.  bthngs  io  i!.<;j^  ......  lave 

«  the  flrongcjl  poiv->rs%  and  ivho  c?:erc>fe  them  inojlt  to  jxJgv  of  the 
1  relations  let-ween  fitiftjle  ieings  ami  *".'•<?  'aivs  of  nature.  A  ti'e.'yj/- 
1  ivbt  is  naturally  weak,  and  does  not  carry  her  ideas  to  any  great 
'  extent,  knows  hoyj  to  judge  and  m-.iJt--  a  proper  e  Rim  ate  of  tlujn 
'  movements  which  JJje  fits  to  work,  it:  cnlcr  to  aid  Lsr  ivcfitfiefs  ; 

*  and    thefe  movements    are  the  pajjlons    of  men.      The    tnechanift:-  Jhe 

*  employs  is    much  more  powerful   then   can  ;  fir  all  her  l.^crs  sr.o'i-: 

*  the  human  heart.      She  tnufl  have  the  Jkill   to  incline   us    to  Jo   ei>t:  ^ 
'  thing  which    her  fex    -will   not  enMc  her  to  do  of  herfdf,   asd  liUcf. 
1  is    necejfary    or  agreeable  to  her  ;     therefore  fle  ought    to  Jludy    tit 
'  mind  of  man  thoroughly,   not  the  mind  of  man   in  general,  abjlraSlfd^ 
(  but  the  difpofttions  of  ihofe  men  to  ivbtm  Jbe  is  fubjtSl,  either   by   the 
'  laws  of  her  country  or  by  tbe  force  if  opinion.      Sle  Jboi:ld  laarn  t» 
1  penetrate    into  their   real  fentimtnis   from   ibtir    <.L-;:'ac*faliont     tbt^ 
1  affiant,  their  looks,   and  gejlurfS.      Sue  Jkoa'd  alfi    have   tie   art,   lij 
.'  her   otun    con-verfation,    aflions,    looks,    and  gflures,  ii   eommttHtcttli 
«  thofe  fcntirnents  ivhich  are   agreeable   tt  lift,:,   vuit&cut  f*einin%   to  in. 
'  tend  it.      Men  will  argue  wore  philcfophically  ui  n.i   ihe  human  heart  ; 

*  but  -women  will  real  tbe  heart  of  nan   Itiitr   tf.a.t    fley.     It   lelor.gt 

*  ts  ivoment  if  I  way  b;  allowed  tbe  ixpr  ?$>,*.   >i  /'/;/»  an  txptrimt*t*l 

G    T, 


66  VINDICATION    OF    TH1 

Eut,  if  ftrength  of  body  be,  with  fome  mow  of  reaum, 
the  boaft  of  men,  why  are  women  fo  infatuated  as  to  be 
proud  of  a  defe<5t  ?  Roufieau  has  furnifhed  them  with  a 
plaufible  excufe,  which  could  only  have  occurred  to  a 
man,  whofe  imagination  "had  been  allowed  to  run  wild, 
and  refine  on  the  impreffions  made  by  exquifite  fenfes — 
that  they  might,  forfooth,  have  a  pretext  for  yielding 
to  a  natural  appetite  without  violating  a  romantic  fpe- 
cies  of  modefty,  which  gratifies  the  pride  and  liberti- 
nifm  of  man. 

Women,  deluded  by  thefe  fentiments,  fometimes  boaft 
of  their  weaknefs,  cunningly  obtaining  power  by  play 
ing  on  the  nveaknefs  of  men ;  and  they  may  well  glory 
in  their  illicit  fway,  for,  like  Turkilh  bafhaws,  they  have 
more  real  power  than  their  matters :  but  virtue  is  facri- 
ficed  to  temporary  gratifications,  and  the  refpe&ability 
of  life  to  the  triumph  of  an  hour. 

Women,  as  well  as  defpots,  have  now,  perhaps,  more 
power  than  they  would  have,  if  the  world,  divided  and 
Subdivided  into  kingdoms  and  families,  was  governed 
by  laws  deduced  from  the  exercife  of  reafon;  but  in 

*  K>orrJ';i\y     <>nrl    ic    reduce     tht  fiudy  of  man  to    a  fyjttm.       Women 

*  have  txflft  1C  it,   men   have  tnojl  genius  \   ivomen    obfcrve^   men   reafon  ' 

*  fiax  tic  concurrence  of  both    <we    derive    the   cleat  eft    ligfo   and    tie 
'  moll  perfect  knowledge,   ivhhb  the   human   mind  is,   cf  itfelf^   capable 
'  of  attaining.      In   one   ivo<-d,  from   hence   ive  acquire    the  weft   inti- 

*  mate  acquaint arce,    both     iviih    ourfcfafs    and    ethers,    of  ivb:cb   our 
'  nciure  is   capable',   and  it  is  iLus  that  art    has  a   ccnfiant  tendency   t« 
'j'erfefl    to^fe    endotuwents    tuhicb    nature    Lai   beffoived  —  Ive   ivorld 
'  is  the  Look    cf  women*       RouiT^au's    Envl'.us.      /  hope  my    readers 
Atll  remember  tbtevttifarifont   'ii'bica  2  have  brought  forward,  Letit>cea 
women  end  of.].ers. 


RIG-HTS    OF    WOMAN.  67 


obtaining  it,  to  carry  on  the  comparifon,  their  characler 
is  degraded,  and  licentioufnefs  fpread  through  the  whole 
aggregate  of  fociety.  The  many  become  pedeftal  to 
the  few.  I,  therefore,  will  venture  to  affert,  that  till 
women  are  more  rationally  educated,,  the  progrefs  of 
human  virtue  and  improvement  in  knowledge  mull  re 
ceive  continual  checks.  And  if  it  be  granted,  that  \vc- 
mari  was  not  created  merely  to  .gratify  the.appetite  of 
man,  nor  to  be  the  upper  fervant,  who  provides  his 
meals  and  takes  care  of  his  linen,  it  mull  follow,  that  the 
iirft  care  of  thofe  mothers  or  fathers,  who  really  attend 
to  the  education  of  females,  mould  be,  if  not  to 
flrengthen  the  body,  at  lead,  not  to  deftroy  the  confti- 
tution  by  miltaken  notions  of  beauty  and  female  excel 
lence  ;  nor  mould  girls  ever  be  allowed  to  imbibe  the 
pernicious  notion  that  a  defect  can,  by  any  chemical 
procefs  of  reafoning,  become  an  excellence.  In  this  re - 
fpeft,  I  am  happy  to  find,  that  the  author  of  one  of  the 
moft  inflruftive  books,  that  our  country  has  produced 
for  children,  coincides  with  me  in  opinion  ;  I  mall  quote 
his  pertinent  remarks  to  give  the  force  of  his  rcfpeclabj? 
authority  to  reafon.* 

*   ^  rtfpcft&bie  old  man  gives    ike  fallowing  fanjibl*  account  of  tie 
method  he  purfucd  ivben  educating  bis  daughter .     *  I  endeavoured  to  give 

*  both  to  her  mind  and  body  a  degree  of  v?%o.\-,  which  it  [ejdom  found 
'  in  the  female  ftx ,      Atfoon  as  fee  'wasfujficicntly  advanced  in  jJrenoifj 

*  to  be  capable  of  tie  lighter  labours  of  iiusbandry  and  gardening,  Ijin* 
1  ployed  hey  as  my  conjiant  companion,      Selene ,  for  that  ivai  her  nan:e^ 

*  foon  acquired  a  dexterity  in  all  tl.'fff  ruftic  employments    tvhicb  I  con°  , 
4  fidered  luii-h  equal pleafuie  and  admiration.      If  ivorr.cn  are  in  gene- 

*  ral feeble  both  in  body  end  mind}  it  ar'tfes   Ufifrom  nature  tbtm'frotu 

d?    ^ 


CS  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

But  mould  it  be  proved  that  woman  is  naturally 
uc.  ker  than  man,  from  whence  does  it  follow  that  it  is 
natural  for  her  to  labour  to  become  flill  weaker  than  na 
ture  intended  her  to  be  ?  Arguments  of  this  call  are  an 
infult  to  common  fenfe  and  favour  of  paffion.  The  di- 
ftiiTte  right  of  hufbands,  like  the  divine  right  of  kings, 
may,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  in  this  enlightened  age,  be  con 
ic- ilrd  without  danger,  and  though  conviction  may  not 
ft'ience  many  boiflerous  difputants,  yet,  when  any  pre 
vailing  prejudice  is  attacked,  the  wife  will  confider,  and 
bave  the  narrow-minded  to  rail  with  thoughtlefs  vehe 
mence  at  innovation. 

'  C'iu'ni:cn.  Hrf  encourage  a  vicious  indolence  ard inactivity,  ivhicb  lie 
'  falfe'y  call  dd'c^cy  ;  in/lead  cf  hardening  their  minds  by  tbefcverer 
''principles  of  re~fi,n  and  fbilofophyt  tve  breed  them  to  i:f clefs  arts,  ivhicb 
'":'-'/  and  Ccnfuality*  In  tnojl  of  the  countries  ivbicb  I 
'.•'.'.' JT  of  an  higher  nature  than  afeia 
'.-  poftaret  of  the  koJy  ;  their  time  is 
:.'j  '.r  trif..s.  ci.d  irif.es  become  tie  only  pit rf nits  capable 
AV.V.  1-r'i  h'nn  io  for <reit  tLat  it  is  upon  the  qualities 
1  of  at  our  man  domtftit  comforts  and  tbe  education  of 

•  -.'..      Ar.d  lub&t  are  the  comforts  or  tLe  education 

'  r;  '        .  "-:     •,    ccrrvptcd  from  their  infant  y.  and  unacquainted 

'    •::  /"//'>,  are  fitted  to  Ifflciol    To  touch  a  nmfical 

1  infl,  u>T,'~:i  with  ufilefs  fiillt  to  exhibit  their  natural  or  effefled graces, 
{  to  t!:e  eyes  ^f  In^o'e.it  avd debaucbtd young  meniiubo  dijfifate  their  huf- 
1  bantli*  patrimony  in  riotous  and  unnecejjary  expe rfes  .-  ihefe  are  the 
<  -r.'y  of  Is.  euU:Vi!ted  ty  WOMCII  in  mojl  cf  the  foli/bed  nations  I  lad 
'  Jtea.  Jtvd  tie  cwfti, ;  U'ues  are  uniformly  fueb  as  may  be  exfetfcd  to 
1  proceed  frtHnjucb  / 'Diluted  fourccs,  private  tni/eryt  and  public  ftrr- 
*  *uitude. 

'  Bat,  Si!.:-it'!  c,:..(  at'on    W.TJ  rrgulatcd  by  different  views  t  and  con- 
{  du5lt.il  upun  fe-verer  principles ;   if  that   can   be  called- feverity  iL-L'.ib 
optas  the  mind  to  afcnfe  cf  moral  and  religious  (iuticS)  u>:d  mojl  efTes* 
tually  arms  it  aoainfi  the  inevitable  evils  of  life  ' 

Mr.  Day's  5?.:.dford  and  Mcrtor,  Vol.  III. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN*.  69 

The  mother,  who  wifhes  to  give  true  dignity  of  cha 
racter  to  her  daughter,  muft,  regardlefs  of  the  fneers  of 
ignorance,  proceed  on  a  plan  diametrically  oppoiite  to 
that  which  RoufTeau  has  recommended  with  all  the  de 
luding  charms  of  eloquence  and  philofophical  fophiftry : 
for  his  eloquence  renders  abfurdities  plaufible,  and  his 
dogmatic  conclufions  puzzle,  without  convincing  thofe 
who  iiave  not  ability  to  refute  them. 

Throughout  the  whole  animal  kingdom  every  young 
creature  requires  almoil  continual  exercife,  and  the  in 
fancy  of  children,  conformable  to  this  intimation,  mould 
be  paffed  in  harmlefs  gambols,  that  exercife  the  feet 
and  hands,  without  requiring  very  minute  direction 
from  the  head,  or  the  conftant  attention  of  a  nurfe.  In 
fa£t,  the  care  neceffary  for  felf-prefervation  is  the  nrft 
natural  exercife  of  the  underflanding,  as  little  inven 
tions  to  amufe  the  prefent  moment  unfold  the  imagina 
tion.  But  thefe  wife  deligns  of  nature  are  counteracted 
by  miftaken  fondnefs  or  blind  zeal.  The  child  is  not 
left  a  moment  to  its  own  direction,  particularly  a  girl, 
and  thus  rendered  dependent — dependence  is  called  na 
tural. 

To  preferve  perfonal  beauty,  woman's  glory !  the 
limbs  and  faculties  are  cramped  with  worfe  than  Chinefe 
bands,  and  the  fedentary  life  which  they  are  condemned 
to  live,  whim  boys  frolic  in  the  open  air,  weakens  the 
mufcles  and  relaxes  the  nerves. — As  for  Roufieau's  re 
marks,  which  have  fmce  been  echoed  by  feveral  writers, 
that  they  have  naturally,  that  is  from  their  birth,  in 
dependent  of  education,  a  fondnefs  for  dolls,  dreiTmg, 


70  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

and  talking — they  are  fo  puerile  as  not  to  merit  a  feri- 
ous  refutation.  That  a  girl,  condemned  to  fit  for  hours 
together  liftening  to  the  idle  chat  of  weak  nurfes,  or  to 
attend  at  her  mother's  toilet,  will  endeavour  to  join  the 
converfation,  is,  indeed  very  natural;  and  that  (he  will 
imitate  her  mother  or  aunts,  and  amufe  hsrfelf  by  adorn 
ing  her  lifelefs  doll,  as  they  do  in  drelfmg  her,  poor 
innocent  babe!  is  undoubtedly  a  inoft  natural  confe- 
quence.  For  men  of  the  greateft  abilities  have  feldom 
had  furEcient  ftrength  to  rife  above  the  furrounding  at- 
mofphere;  and,  if  the  page  of  genius  has  always  been 
blurred  by  the  prejudices  of  the  age,  fome  allowance 
fhould  be  made  for  a  fex,  who,  like  kings,  always  fee 
things  through  a  falfe  medium. 

In  this  manner  may  the  fondnefs  for  drefs,  confpicu- 
ous  in  women,  be  eafily  accounted  for,  without  fuppof- 
ing  it  the  refult  of  a  defire  to  pleafe  the  fex  on  which 
they  are  dependent.  The  abfurdity,  in  fhort,  of  fup- 
pofmg  that  a  girl  is  naturally  a  coquette,  and  that  a  de- 
fire  connected  with  the  impulfe  of  nature  to  propagate 
the  fpecies,  mould  appear  even  before  an  improper  edu 
cation  has,  by  heating  the  imagination,  called  it  forth 
prematurely,  is  fo  unphilofophical,  that  fuch  a  fagacious 
obferver  as  RoufTeau  would  not  have  adopted  it,  if  he 
had  not  been  accuftomed  to  make  reafon  give  way  to  his 
defire  of  fingularity,  and  truth  to  a  favourite  paradox. 

Yet  thus  to  give  a  fex  to  mind  was  not  very  confident 
with  the  principles  of  a  man  who  argued  fo  warmly, 
and  fo  well,  for  the  immortality  of  the  foul. — But  what 
a  weak  barrier  is  truth  when  it  Hands  in  the  way  of  an 


RIGHTS    OF  WOMAN.  J 1 

hypothecs !  RoufTeau  refpe&ed — almoft  adored  virtue 
— and  yet  allowed  himfef  to  love  with  fenfual  fondnefs. 
His  imagination  conftantly  prepared  inflammable  fewel 
for  his  inflammable  fenfes ;  but,  in  order  to  reconcile 
his  refpecl  for  felf-denial,  fortitude,  and  thofe  heroic 
virtues,  which  a  mind  like  his  could  not  coolly  admire, 
he  labours  to  invert  the  law  of  nature,  and  broaches  a 
doctrine  pregnant  with  mifchief,  and  derogatory  to  the 
character  of  (upreme  wifdom. 

His  ridiculous  {lories,  which  tend  to  prove  that  girls 
are  naturally  attentive  to  their  perfons,  without  laying 
any  ftrefs  on  daily  example,  are  below  contempt.  And 
that  a  little  mifs  mould  have  fuch  a  correct  tafte  as  to 
negled  the  pleafing  amufement  of  making  O's,  merely 
becaufe  ftie  perceived  that  it  was  an  ungraceful  attitude, 
fliould  be  felecled  with  the  anecdotes  of  the  learned  pig*. 

I  have,  probably,  had  an  opportunity  of  observing 
more  girls  in  their  infancy  than  J.  J.  Roufieau — I  can 
recollect  my  own  feelings,  and  I  have  looked  fteadily 
around  me;  yet,  fo  far  from  coinciding  with  him  in 
opinion  refpe&ing  the  firft  dawn  of  the  female  charac- 

*    I  once  kneiu  d  young  pet  Con  ivho  learned  to  lo^'rle  before  Jhe  learned 

'  to  react,  and  began  to  ivrlteiv'th  Ler  nsedle  befurc  Jbe  iQiild  life  a  pen ; 

4  At  firjl.    Indeed   Jbs  took   it   into  her  bead  to  make  no  oiler  letter  than 

*  the  0;   this  letter  foe  ivas   conftantly  mak'ng  of  alljlzcs,   and  alivays 
'  tut  tvrong  ivay.      Unluckily    one  day,  as  foe  tuas,  inte.it  on  iLis  etxplay- 
'  fffftif,  Jhe  happened   toftei>erjc!fintl)elooktng-gldjsi  ivben     taking  a 
1  efrjliite  to  the  confi rained  attitude  in   tvbicb  ft e  fat  ivbile  writing,  /be 

*  tl.fciv  aivay  her  pen ,  like  another  P  alias  t  and  determined  aga'injt  mak~ 

*  inv  the  0  any  more     Her  brother  ivat   alj~9  equally  ai>erje  to  writing? 
«  //  was  the  confinement^  hoivc-vsrt  and  not  the- ccnjlrained attitude,  that 

*  mojl  difgitjled  him.""  RouITcau's  Emilius. 


72  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

ter,  I  will  venture  to  affirm,  that  a  girl,  whofe  fpirits 
have  not  been  damped  by  inactivity,  or  innocence  taint 
ed  by  falfe  fhame,  will  always  be  a  romp,  and  the  doll 
will  never  excite  attention  unlefs  confinement  allows  her 
no  alternative.  Girls  and  boys,  in  fhort,  would  play 
harmlefs  together,  if  the  diilinction  of  fex  was  not  in 
culcated  long  before  nature  makes  any  difference. — I 
will  go  further,  and  affirm,  as  an  indifputable  fact,  that 
moft  of  the  women,  in  the  circle  of  my  obfervation,  who 
have  acted  like  rational  creatures,  or  fliewn  any  vigour 
of  intellect,  have  accidentally  been  allowed  to  run  wild 
—as  fome  of  the  elegant  formers  of  the  fair  fex  would 
infiuate. 

The  baneful  confequences  which  flow  from  inatten 
tion  to  health  during  infancy,  and  youth,  extend  further 
than  is  fuppofed — dependence  of  body  naturally  pro 
duces  dependence  of  mind ;  and  how  can  me  be  a  good 
wife  or  mother,  the  greater  part  of  whofe  time  is  em 
ployed  to  guard  agamft  or  endure  ficknefs;  Nor  can  it 
be  expected,  that  a  woman  will  refolutely  endeavour  to 
ftrengthen  her  conlUtution  and  abftain  from  enervating 
indulgencies,  if  artificial  notions  of  beauty,  and  falfc 
defcriptions  of  fenfibility,  have  been  early  entangled 
with  her  motives  of  action.  Moft  men  are  fometimes 
obliged  to  bear  with  bodily  inconveniencies,  and  to 
endure,  occafionly,  the  inclemency  of  the  elements ;  but 
genteel  women  are,  literally  fpeaking,  Haves  to  their 
bodies,  and  glory  in  their  fubjection. 

I  once  knew  a  weak  woman  of  fafhion,  who  was 
more  than  commonly  proud  of  her  delicacy  and  fenfibi- 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  73 

Ihy.  She  thought  a  diftinguifhing  tafte  and  puny  appe 
tite  the  height  of  all  human  perfection,  and  aded  ac 
cordingly — 1  have  Teen  this  weak  fophiflicated  being 
neglect  all  the  duties  of  life,  yet  recline  with  felf-com- 
placency  on  a  fofa,  and  boaft  of  her  want  of  appetite  as 
a  proof  of  delicacy  that  extended  to,  or,  perhaps,  arofe 
from  her  exquinte  fenfibility  :  for  it  is  difficult  to  ren 
der  intelligible  fuch  ridiculous  jargon. — Yet,  at  the  mo 
ment,  I  have  feen  her  infult  a  worthy  old  gentlewoman, 
whom  unexpected  misfortunes  had  made  dependent  on 
her  oftentatious  bounty,  and  who,  in  better  days,  had 
claims  on  her  gratitude.  Is  it  pofiible  that  a  human 
creature  mould  have  become  fuch  a  weak  and  depraved 
being,  if,  like  the  Sybarites,  diflblved  in  luxury,  every 
thing  like  virtue  had  not  been  worn  away,  or  never  im- 
preffed  by  precept,  a  poor  fubilitute  it  is  true,  for  culti 
vation  of  mind,  though  it  ferves  as  a  fence  againft  vice  ? 

Such  a  woman  is  not  a  more  irrational  monfter  than 
fome  of  the  Roman  emperors,  who  were  depraved  by 
lawlefs  power.  Yet,  fince  kings  have  been  more  under 
the  reftraint  of  law,  and  the  curb,  however  weak,  of 
honour,  the  records  of  hiftory  are  not  filled  with  fuch 
unnatural  inilances  of  folly  and  cruelty,  nor  does  the 
defpotifm  that  kills  virtue  and  genius  in  the  bud,  hover 
over  Europe  with  that  deftruclive  blaft  which  defolates 
Turkey,  and  renders  the  men,  as  well  as  the  foil, 
unfruitful. 

Women  are  every  where  in  this  deplorable  flate  ;  for, 
in  order  to  preferve  their  innocence,  as  ignorance  is 
courteoufly  termed,  truth  is  hidden  from  them,  and  they 


74  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

are  made  to  afmme  an  artificial  character  before  their 
faculties  have  acquired  any  ftrength.  Taught  from 
their  infancy,  that  beauty  is  woman's  fceptre,  the  mind 
fhapes  itfelf  to  the  body,  and,  roaming  round  its  gilt 
cage,  only  feeks  to  adorn  its  priibn.  Men  have  various 
employments  andpurfuits  which  engage  their  attention, 
and  give  a  character  to  the  opening  mind  ;  but  women, 
confined  to  one,  and  having  their  thoughts  conflantly 
directed  to  the  molt  infignificant  part  of  themfelves, 
feldom  extend  their  views  beyond  the  triumph  of  the 
hour.  But  was  their  underflanding  once  emancipated 
from  the  flavery  to  which  the  pride  and  fenfuality  of 
man  and  their  fnort-fighted  defire,  like  that  of  domi 
nion  in  tyrants,  of  prefent  fway,  has  fubjected  them,  we 
mould  probably  read  of  their  weakneffes  with  furprife. 
I  muft  be  allowed  to  purfue  the  argument  a  little  farther. 

Perhaps,  if  the  exiftence  of  an  evil  being  was  al 
lowed,  who,  in  the  allegorical  language  of  fcripture, 
went  about  feeking  whom  he  mould  devour,  he  could 
not  more  effectually  degrade  the  c  human  character  than 
by  giving  a  man  abfolute  power. 

This  argument  branches  into  various  ramifications. 
Birth,  riches,  a.nd  every  intrinfic  advantage  that  exalt  a 
man  above  his  fellows,  without  any  mental  exertion, 
fink  him  in  reality  below  them.  In  proportion  to  his 
weaknefs,  he  is  played  upon  by  defigning  men,  till  the 
bloated  monfter  has  loft  all  traces  of  humanity.  And 
that  tribes  of>men,  like  flocks  of  fheep,  mould  quietly 
follow  fuch  a  leader,  is  a  folecifm  that  only  a  defire  of 
prefent  enjoyment  and^narrownefs  of  underftanding  can 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  75 

iblve,  Educated  in  flaviih  dependence,  and  enervated 
by  luxury  and  {loth,  where  (hall  we  lind  men  who  will 
fhnd  forth  to  affert  the  rights  of  man  ; — or  claim  the 
privilege  of  moral  beings,  who  mould  have  bat  one 
road  to  excellence  ?  Slavery  to  monarchs  and  minifters, 
which  the  world  will  be  long  in  freeing  itfelf  from,  and 
whofe  deadly  grafp  Hops  the  progrefs  of  the  human 
mind,  is  not  yet  abolimed. 

Let  not  men  then  in  the  pride  of  powe/,  ufe  the  fame 
arguments  that  tyrannic  kings  and  venal  minifters  have 
ufed,  and  fallacioufly  affert,  that  wormta  ought  to  be  fab- 
jedled  becaufe  me  has  always  been  fo.  But,  when  man, 
governed  by  reafonable  laws,  enjoys  his  natural  free 
dom,  let  him  defpife  woman,  if  fhe  do  not  mare 
him  ;  and,  till  that  glorious  period  arrives,  in  d 
ing  on  the  folly  of  the  fex,  let  him  not  overlook  his  ow.r 

Women,  it  is  true,  obtaining  power  by  unjufl  mearfs 
by  practifing  or  foilering  vice,  evidently  lofe  the  rank 
which  reafon  would  affign  them,  and  they  become  either 
abject  (laves  or  capricious  tyrants.  They  lofe  all  (irsi- 
plicity,  all  dignity  of  fnind,  in  acquiring  power,  and  act 
as  men  are  obferved  to  a£l  when  they  have  been  exalted 
by  the  fame  means . 

It  is  time  to  effect  a  revolution  in  female  manner:; — 
time  to  reftore  to   them  their  loft  dignity — and   make 
them,  as  apart  of  the  human  fpecies,  labour  by  refc 
inr>-  themfelves  to  reform  the  world.     It  is  time  to  fe- 

O 

parate    unchangeable  morals   from  local    manners.— If 
men  be  demi-gods — why  let  us  fcrve  them  !  A  . 

f  the  female  foul  be  as  difputabls  as  that  or" 
H 


76  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

animals — if  their  reafon  does  not  afford  fufficient  light 
to  direcl  their  conduct  whilil  unerring  inilindt  is  de 
nied — they  are  furely  of  all  creatures  the  moil  mifer- 
able  !  and,  bent  beneath  the  iron  hand  of  defliny,  muft 
fubmit  to  be  -if&ir  defetl  in  creation.  But  to  juftify  the 
ways  of  Providence  refpeding  them,  by  pointing  out 
fome  irrefragable  reafon  for  thus  making  fuch  a  large 
portion  of  mankind  accountable  and  not  accountable, 
would  puzzle  the  fubtileft  cafuifl. 

The  only  folid  foundation  for  morality  appears  to  be 
the  characler  of  the  Supreme  Being  ;  the  harmony  of 
which  arifes  from  a  balance  of  attributes — and,  to  fpeak 
with  reverence,  one  attribute  feems  to  imply  the  necejfity 
of  another.  He  muft  be  juft,  becaufe  he  is  wife,  he 
mufl  be  good,  becaufe  lie  is  omnipotent.  For,  to  exalt 
one  attribute  at  the  expenfe  of  another  equally  noble  and 
necefiary,  bears"  the  flump  of  the  warped  reafon  of  man — 
the  homage  of  puffion.  Man,  accaflomed  to  bow  down 
to  power  in  his  favage  flate,  can  feldom  diveft  himfelf 
of  this  barbarous  prejudice  even  when  civilization  de 
termines  how  much  fuperior  mentaHs  to  bodily,  ftrength ; 
and  his  reafon  is  clouded  by  thefe  crude  opinions,  even 
when  he  thinks  of  the  Deity.  His  omnipotence  is 
made  to  fwallow  up,  or  prefide  over  his  other  attri 
butes,  and  thofe  mortals  are  fuppofed  to  limit  his 
power  irreverently,  who  think  that  it  mull  be  regulated 
by  his  wiidom. 

I  difclaim  that  fpecies  of  humility  which,  after  invef- 
tigating  nature,  Hops  at  the  author. — The  High  and 
Lofty  One,  who  inhabiteth  eternity,  doubtlefs  poffeiTes 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  77 

many  attributes  of  which  we  can  form  no  conception  ; 
but  reafon  tells  me  they  cannot  clafh  wirh  thofe  I  adore 
—and  I  am  compelled  to  1  liven  to  her  voice. 

It  feems  natur.il  for  man  to  fearch  for  excellence^ 
and  either  to  trace  it  in  the  object  that  he  worihips,  or 
blindly  to  invert  it  with  perfection  as  a  garment.  But 
what  good  effect  can  the  latter  mode  of  worQiip  have 
on  the  moral  conduct  of  a  rational  boing  ?  lij  bends  to 
power;  he  adores  a  d  my  o.vn  ,1 

bright  profpect  to  him,  or  burll  in  angry,  lawlcfs  fury 
on  his  devoted  head — \c  knows  not  why.  And,  fup- 
pofmg  thtt  the  D  (e  c.-f 

tndirected 

according  to   rules,   d. 

difclaims  as   irreverent.     Into  tLii  d  join 

enthufiafts  and  cooler  thinkers  fallen,  when  they  la 
boured  to  free  men  from  the  wholefome  reitraints  which 
a  juft  conception  of  the  character  of  God  impofes. 

It  is  not  impious  thus  to  fcan  the  attributes  of  the 
Almighty  :  in  fact,  who  can  avoid  it  that  exercifes 
his  faculties  ?  for  to  love  God  as  the  fountain  of  wif- 
dom,  goodnefs,  and  power,  appears  to  be  the  only  wor- 
fhip  ufeful  to  a  being  who  wifhes  to  acquire  either  vir 
tue  or  knowledge.  A  blind  unfettled  affection  may, 
like  human  paflions,  occupy  the  mind  and  warm  the 
heart,  whilil,  to  do  jufdce,  love  mercy,  and  walk  hum 
bly  with  our  God,  is  forgotten.  I  mail  purlue  this  fub- 
ject  ftill  further,  when  I  confider  religion  in  a  light  op- 
pofite  to  that  recommended  by  Dr.  Gregory,  who  treats 
it  as  a  matter  of  fentiment  or  tafte. 
H  2 


78  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

To  return  from  this  apparent  digreffion.  It  were  t» 
be  wifhed,  that  women  would  cherifh  an  affection  for 
their  hufbands,  founded  on  the  fame  principle  that  de 
votion  ought  to  reft  upon.  No  other  firm  bafe  is  there 
under  heaven — for  let  them  beware  of  the  fallacious 
light  of  fentiment ;  too  often  ufed  as  a  fofter  phrafe  for 
fenfuality.  It  follows  then,  I  think,  that  from  their  in 
fancy  women  ihould  either  be  Ihut  up  like  eaftern  princes, 
or  educated  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  be  able  to  think  and 
a£l  for  themfelves. 

Why  do  men  halt  between  two  opinions,  and  expect 
impoffibilities  ?  Why  do  they  expeci:  virtue  from  a  flave, 
from  a  being  whom  the  conftitution  of  civil  fociety  has 
rendered  weak,  if  not  vicious  ? 

Still  I  know  that  it  will  require  a  confiderable  length 
of  time  to  eradicated  the  firmly  rooted  prejudices  which 
fenfualifls  have  planted  ;  it  will  alfo  require  fome  time 
to  convince  women  that  they  aft  contrary  to  their  real 
intereit  on  an  enlarged  fcale,  when  they  cherifli  or  af 
fect  weaknefs  under  the  name  of  delicacy,  and  to  con 
vince  the  world  that  the  poifoned  fource^of  female  vices 
and  follies,  if  it  be  necefTary,  in  compliance  with  cuf- 
torn,  to  ufe  fynonymous  terms  in  a  lax  fenfe,  has  been 
the  fenfual  homage  paid  to  beauty  : — to  beauty  of 
features ;  for  it  has  been  fhrewdly  obferved  by  a  Ger 
man  writer,  that  a  pretty  woman,  as  an  object  of  defire, 
is  generally  allowed  to  be  fo  by  men  of  all  defcrip- 
v,  hilil  a  fine  woman,  who  infpires  more  fublime 
emotions  by  displaying  intellectual  beauty,  may  be  over 
looked  or  obferved  with  indifference,  by  thofe  men 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  79 

who  find  their  happinefs  in  the  gratification  of  their  ap 
petites.  I  forefee  an  obvious  retori — whiL'c  man  remains 
fuch  an  imperfect  being  as  he  appears  iiitnerto  to  ha.ve 
been,  he  will,  more  or  lei's,  be  the  flave  of  his  appetites ; 
and  thofe  women  obtaining  moft  power  who  gratify  a 
predominant  one,  the  fex  is  degraded  by  a  phyfical,  if 
not  by  a  moral  neceility. 

This  objection  has,  I  grant,  fome  force;  but  while 
fuch  a  (ublime  precept  exifts,  as,  *  be  pure  as  your  hea- 
'  venly  father  is  p  ;re  ;'  it  would  feem  that  the  virtues 
of  man  are  not  limited  by  the  Being  who  alone 
could  limit  them ;  and  that  he  may  prefs  forward  with 
out  confidering  whether  he  fteps  out  of  liis  fphere  by 
indulging  fuch  a  noble  ambition.  To  the  wild  billows 
it  has  been  faid,  '  thus  far  malt  thou  go,  and  no  fur 
ther  ;  and  here  mall  thy  proud  waves  be  Hayed.'  Vain 
ly  then  do  they  beat  and  foam,  retrained  by  the  power 
that  confines  the  ftruggling  planets  within  their  orbits, 
matter  yields  to  the  great  governing  Spirit. — But  an 
immortal  foul,  not  reilrained  by  mechanical  laws,  and 
ftruggling  to  free  itfelf  from  the  fnackles  of  matter, 
contributes  to,  inftead  of  difturbing,  the  order  of  cre 
ation,  when,  co-operating  with  the  Father  of  fpirits, 
it  tries  to  govern  itfelf  by  the  invariable  rule  that,  in 
a  degree,  before  which  our  imagination  faints,  the  uni- 
verfe  is  regulated. 

Befides,  if  women  are  educated  for  dependence,  that 
is,  to  ac~l  according  to  the  will  of  another  fallible  be 
ing,  and  fubmit,  right  or  wrong,  to  power,  where  are 
we  to  Hop  ?  Are  they  to  be  coniidered  as  vicegerents, 


O  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

allov.'ed  to  reign  over  a  final  1  domain,  and  anfwcrable 
for  their  conduct  to  a  higher  tribunal,  liable  to  error? 

It  will  not  be  difficult  to  prove,  that  iuch  delegates 

will  act  like  men   fubjected  by   fear,  and  make  their 

1  fervants   endure  their  tyrannical  oppref- 

fion.  As  they  fubmit  without  re:;ion,  they  will,  having 

no  fixed  rules  to  fquare   their  conduct  by,  be  kind   or 

j'jil  as  the  whim  of  the  moment  directs ;  and  we 

not  to  wonder  if  fometimes,  galled  by  their  heavy 

they  take  a  malignant  pleafure  in  refting  it  on 

,_T  moulders. 

But,  fuopofing  a  woman,  trained  up  to  obedience, 
;.  rried  to  a  fenilble  man,  who  directs  her  judg 
ment,  without  making  her  feel  the  fervility  of  her  fub- 
jection,  to  act  with  as  much  propriety  by  this  reflected 
light  as  can  be  expected  when  reafon  is  taken  at  ieccnd 
hand,  yet  me  cannot  enfure  the  life  of  her  protector  ; 
he  m:iy  die  and  leave  her  with  a  large  family. 

A  double  duty  devolves  on  her ;  to  educate  them  in 
the  character  of  both  father  and  mother  ;  to  form  their 
principles  and  fecure  their  property.  But,  alas  !  me 
has  never  thought,  much  lefs  acted  for  herfelf.  She 
has  only  learned  to  pkufe  *  men,  to  depend  gracefully 

*  '  In  iLe  union  of  the  frx.''sf    loth  fiurfut  one  eonifKon  oljeffi,   but 

*  Kit  in  tie  fame  manner       From  tle-r  dii>e>Jii^     in    thh  particular^ 

*  arifis  tie  Jirjl  determinate  dijfcrcnce  bt^ueen    > be  moral  relations    c/ 

*  each.      17js    one  jkoiild  he    atfive   and  .froag,  t  e    o:hcr  fajjivc  and 
(  wettk  :   it  it  nectjj-.r^  the    one  /louitf   i  ••    e    Itib  the  foiier    and  tht 

*  will)  and  that  the  oike'    .•,'/.    t:.    xt-      ttle  rffijtancs 

*  T/jL  / rinciple  le':n^    cilab'.    ''?d,  it  ,'  76:i'f,    that    ivoman  ivas  fx- 

*  ^y^r-l^  formed  10  plc.'fti  ile   man  t   if  i  -   i  ''ligaticn  bd  teetyr«cal  alfo^ 

*  a;>d   iuc  man  tugbt  to  £U>  if  e    in  his  tuwt  it  is  not  fo   tw 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  8l 

en  them;  yet,  encumbered  with  children,  how  is  flic 
to  obtain  another  prote&or — a  hufband  to  fupply  the 
place  of  reafon  ?  A  rational  man,  for  we  are  not 
treading  on  romantic  ground,  though  he  may  think 
her  a  pleating  docile  creature,  will  not  choofe  to  marry 
a  family  for  love,  when  the  world  contains  many  more 
pretty  creatures.  What  is  then  to  become  of  her?  She 
either  falls  an  eafy  prey  to  fome  mean  fortune-hunter, 
who  defrauds  her  children  of  their  paternal  inheritance, 
and  renders  her  miferable ;  or  becomes  the  viclira  of 
difcontent  and  blind  indulgence.  Unable  to  educate 
her  fons,  or  imprefs  them  with  refpecl ;  for  it  is  not  a 
play  on  words  to  alTert,  that  people  are  never  refpecT:- 
ed,  though  filling  an  important  ftation,  who  are  not 
refpeclable ;  ihq  pines  under  the  anguiih  of  unavailing 
impotent  regret.  The  ferpent's  tooth  enters  into  her 


*  canje   hs  is  Jlrong*      This,   I   muft  confefs,   is  not  one   of  the  refined 
t  maxims  of  love ;    it  isy  however)  one  of  the  Jaivs  of  nature ,  prior 
i   to  Iwe  iifelf. 

*   If  "woman    be  formed  to  pleafe   and  be  fubjcftsd  to   man,   it  is  her 

*  place.,   doub'lefs)   to  render  b  erf  elf  agreeable   to  kirn,   inftead   of  cbal- 
«  knging    bis    pajfion,      TLe    -violence    of   bis    dejires  defends  en    her 
<   charms  j   it  is  by  means  of  tlefe  foe  Jbould  urge    Lim   to   the  exertion 

*  of  tkofc  powers  ichicb  nature  bath  given   him.      f£le    moft  fucceftful 

*  method  of  exciting  them  tty  to  render  fash  exertion  neceffary    by   their 

*  rfftftance  \  as,  in  that  cafe,  f elf -love  is    addid  to    defiret  and  the   one 
'  triumphs  in   the  vifiory  which    the  other  obliged  to    acquire.      Hence 
t   ar'/fe  the  various  modes  of  attack  and  defence   betiVeen   the  /exes  ;   tht 
'   boldnefs  of  one  fex,    and  the  timidity  of  the  ether ;   and,    in    a  ivordj 
'  that   bajhfalnefs  anJ  modefty  ivith  "which  nature  hath  attntd  the  ivea%f 

*  in  order  to  fubdue  the  ftrong?     Rouffeau's  Emilius. 

I  Jhall  make  no  other  comment  on  this  ingenious  pajfage^  than  juft  ft 
)  that  it  is  the  pbilofoghy  of  lafciviovfneftt 


82  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

very  foul,  and  the  vices  of  licentious  youth  bring  her" 
with  forrow,  if  not  with  poverty  <ufo,  to  the  grave. 

This  is  not  an  overcharged  piclure ;  on  i.he  contrary, 
it  is  a  very  poflible  cafe,  and  fomcthing  fimilar  muft 
have  fallen  unuer  every  attentive  ^e. 

I  have,  however,  taken  it  for  granted,  that  fhe  was 
well-difpofed,  though  expedience  fliews,  that  the  blind 
may  as  eaiily  be  led  into  a  ditch  as  along  the  beaten 
road.  But  fuppofmg,  no  very  improbable  conjecture, 
that  a  being  oniy  taught  to  ple^fe  rr.uil  ilill  find  her 
happinefs  in  pleafmg  j — what  an  example  of  felly,  not 
to  fay  vice,  will  fhe  be  to  her  innocent  daughters  !  The 
mother  will  be  loft  in  the  coquet. e,  r.nJ,  mfteud  of 
making  friends  of  her  daughters,  view  vhem  with  eyes 
aikance,  for  they  are  rivals — rivals  more  cruel  than 
any  other,  becauie  they  invite  a  comp,.riibn ,  and  drive 
her  from  the  throne  of  beauty,  who  nas  never  thought 
of  a  feat  on  the  bench  of  reafon. 

It  does  not  require  a  lively  pencil,  or  the   dlfcrimi- 
nating  outline  of  a  caricature,  to  Iketch   the   dornefhc 
miferies  and  petty  vices  which  fuch  a  miflrefs  of  a  fa-  . 
jnily  diffufes.     Still  flie  only  acts  as  a  woman  ought  to- 
act,  brought  up  according  to  Roufieau's  fyitem.     She- 
can  never  be  reproached  for  being  mafcnline,  or  turn-v 
ing  out  of  her  fphere;  nay,  fhe  ir«y  obferve  another 
of  his  grand  rules,  and  cautioufiy  prei'erving  her  repu- ; 
tation    free    from  fpot,    be   reckoned   a  good   kind  of 
woman.     Yet    in    what    refpec~l    can     me     be    ' . 
good?     She  abfcains,  it  is  tine,    without    ?ny    great? 
ilruggle,  from  committing  grofs  crimes  j  but  how  does  j 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  83 

Ihe  fulfil  her  dudes  ?  Duties  !  —  in  truth  fhe  has  enough 
to  think  of  to  adorn  her  body  and  nurfe  a  weak  con- 
ftitution. 

With  refpeft  to  religion,  fhe  never  prefumed  to 
judge  for  herfelf  5  but  conformed,  as  a  dependent  crea 
ture  fhould,  to  the  ceremonies  of  the  church  which  fiie 
was  brought  up  in,  pioufly  believing,  that  wifer  heads 
than  her  own  have  fettled  that  bufmefs  :  —  and  not  to 
doubt  is  her  point  of  perfection.  She  therefore  pays 
her  tythe  of  mint  and  cummin  —  and  thanks  her  God 
that  me  is  not  as  other  women  are.  Thefe  are  the 
blefled  effects  of  a  good  education!  thefe  the  virtues  of 
man's  helpmate.* 

I  muft  relieve  myfelf  by  drawing  a  different  picture. 

Let  fancy  now  prefent  a  woman  with  a  tolerable  un- 
derftanding,  for  I  do  not  wilh  to  leave  the  line  of  me 
diocrity,  whofe  conftitution,  ftrengthened  by  exercife, 
has  allowed  her  body  to  acquire  its  full  vigour  j  her 
mind,  at  the  fame  time,  gradually  expanding  itfelf  to 
comprehend  the  moral  duties  of  life,  and  in  what  hu 
man  virtue  and  dignity  confift.  Formed  thus  by  the 
relative  duties  of  her  ftation,  me  marries  from  affec 
tion,  without  lofing  fight  of  prudence,  and  looking  be- 


*    '    0  fjoiv  lovelyj   exclaims   Roujfcau,  fpeakin^  of  Sophia,   *    is  her 

*  Ignorance  I    Happy    is    hs   ivbo  is  deftined  to  infiruft  her  !     She  ivill 

*  never  pretend  to  be  ths  tutor  of  her   husband,   but  will  bt  content  to 
«   be  his  pupil.      Far  from    attempting    to  fubjett   h'm  to   her  tajle,  Jbs 

*  ivi/l  accfinniidale  herfelf  to  /.>.'s.      She   *will  bi-  mor  c  eftimable  to  himt 

*  than  if  foe  ivas  learned  :  Le  tuill  have  a  pleasure  in  inftrucling  her.' 

I  jkall  content  tnyCelf  tuitl)  fimply  askin<r^  bow  friendship  can  fub* 
f'ft,  when  loi'c  expires  t  between  the  mafisr  and  bis  fufil* 


84  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

yond  matrimonial  felicity,  me  fecures  her  hufbancTs  re- 
fpecl:  before  it  is  necefiary  to  exert  mean  arts  to  pleafe 
him,  and  feed  a  dying  flame,  which  nature  doomed  to 
expire  when  the  objedl  became  familiar,  when  friend- 
fhip  and  forbearance  take  place  of  a  more  ardent  af- 
feclion.  This  is  the  natural  death  of  love,  and  do- 
meflic  peace  is  not  deftroyed  by  itruggles  to  prevent 
its  extinction.  I  alfo  fuppofe  the  huiband  to  be  virtu 
ous  ;  or  fhe  is  Hill  more  in  want  of  independent  prm- 
ciples. 

Fate,  however,  breaks  this  tie. — She  is  left  a  wi 
dow,  perhaps,  without  a  fufficient  provision ;  but  flie 
is  not  defolate  !  The  pang  cf  nature  is  felt  -,  but  after 
time  has  foftened  forrow  into  melancholy  refignadon, 
her  heart  turns  to  her  children  with  redoubled  fondnefs, 
and  anxious  to  provide  for  them,  affeclion  gives  a  fa- 
cred  heroic  cr,ft  to  her  maternal  duties.  She  thinks  that 
not  only  the  eye  fees  her  virtuous  efforts,  from  whom 
all  her  comfort  now  muft  flow,  arid  whofe  approbation 
is  life  ;  but  her  imagination,  a  little  abftracled  and 
exalted  by  grief,  dwells  on  the  fond  Jupe,  that  the 
eyes  which  her  trembling  hand  clofcd,  may  Hili  fee 
how  (he  fubdues  every  wayward  co  fulfil  the 

double  duty  of  being  the  father  as    v  s    the  : 

of  her  children.  Knifed  to  heroifm  i  sfortunes,  .f..e 
repreflcs  the  nrft  faint  d^'V,!,u,';  of  a  1  incuii  .don, 

before  it  ripens  into  loyr.  th  n  ot  life  for 

gets   her  f  x — forge  fur  i   awakening 

paiTion,  which  might  e  be    :  red  and   re 

turned. — She  no  longer   thinks  of  p.fuiing,  and  con- 


EIGHTS    OF    WOMAN. 


fcious  dignity  prevents  her  from  priding  herfelf  on  ac 
count  of  the  praife  which  her  conduct  demands.  Her 
children  have  her  love,  and  her  brighteft  hopes  are 
beyond  the  grave,  where  her  imagination  often  ftrays. 

I  think  J  fee  her  furrounded  by  her  children,  reap 
ing  the  reward  of  her  care.  The  intelligent  eye  meets 
her's,  whilil  health  and  innocence  fmile  on  their  chubby 
cheeks,  and  as  they  grow  up  the  cares  of  life  are  lef- 
fened  by  their  grateful  attention.  She  lives  to  fee  the 
virtues  which  me  endeavourcd  to  plant  on  principles, 
fixed  into  habits,  to  fee  her  children  attain  a  ftrength 
of  character  fufficient  to  enable  them  to  endure  adver- 
fity,  without  forgetting  their  mother's  example. 

The  talk  of  life  thus  fulfilled,  me  calmly  waited  for 
the  deep  of  death,  and  rifmg  from  the  grave,  may 
fay  —  Behold,  thou  gave/l  me  a  talent  —  and  here  are 
£ve  talents. 

I  wifh  to  fum  up  what  I  have  faid  in  a  few  words, 
for  I  here  throw  down  my  gauntlet,  and  deny  the  ex- 
iftence  of  lexual  virtues,  not  excepting  modefty.  For 
man  and  woman,  truth,  if  I  underfhnd  the  meaning  of 
the  word,  rnuft  be  the  fame;  yet  the  fanciful  female 
io  prettily  drawn  by  poets  and  noveliifts, 
demanding  the  Sacrifice  of  truth  and  fmcerity,  virtue 
becomes  a  relative  idea,  having  no  other  foundation 
than  utility,  and  of  that  utility  men  pretend  arbitrarily 
to  judge,  ill.  ping  it  to  their  own  convenience. 

Woiv.ji:,  1  allow,  may  h.ive  different  duties   to   ful 
fil;  bin  they  are  him  a;.  J  ^.ies,  and  c.ie  principles  that 
d  regulate  the  difcJwrge  of  tiicm,  I  iturdily  main 
tain,  mull  be  the  fame. 


g6  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

To  become  refpeftable,  the  exercife  of  their  under- 
flanding  is  neceflkry ;  there  is  no  other  foundation  for 
independence  of  charafter ;    I  mean  explicitly  to  fay,   : 
that  they  muft  only  bow  to  the  authority  of  reafon,  m- 
ftead  of  being  the  modcfl  flaves  of  opinion. 

In  the  fuperior  ranks  of  life  how  feidom  do  we  meet 
with  a  man  of  fuperior  abilities,  or  even   common   ac 
quirements?    The  reafon  appears  to  me  clear ;  the  ftate 
they  are  born  in   was  an   unnatural  one.     The  human 
charafter  has  ever  been  formed  by  the  employments  the  = 
individual,  or  clafs,   parfues ;  and  if  the  faculties  are  : 
not  fharpened   by  neceffity,  they  muft  remain  obtufe. 
The  argument  "may  fairly  be  extended  to  women;  for, 
feidom  occupied  by  ferious  bufmefs,  the  purfuit  of  plea, 
fare  gives  that  infignificancy  to  their  chafer  which 
renders  the  fociety  of  the  great  fo  infipid.     The  fame 
want  of  firmnefs,  produced  by  a  fimilar  caufe,  forces 
them   both   to   fly  from  themfelves  to  noify  pleafures, 
and  artificial  paffions,  till  vanity  takes  place  of  every 
focial  affeftion,  and  the  charaftcriftics  of  humanity  can 
fcarcely  be  difcerned.     Such   are  the  bleffings  of  civil 
governments,  as  they  are   at  prefent   organized,  that 
wealth  and  female  foftnefs  equally  tend  to  debafe  man 
kind,  and  are  produced  by  the  fame  caufe  ;  but   allow-, 
ing  women  to  be  rational  creatures,  they   mould  be  in-i 
cited  to  acquire  virtues  which  they  may  call  their  own, 
for  how  can  a  rational  being  be  ennobled  by  any  thing 
that  is  not  obtained  by  its  own  exertions? 


RIGHTS   OF    WOMAN.  87 


CHAP.       IV. 

$u>/erevafiofis  on  the  flate  of  degradation  to  which 
is  reduced  by  various  cewfes. 

JL  HAT  woman  is  naturally  weak,  or  degraded  by 
a  concurrence  of  circumftances  is,  I  think,  clear.  But 
this  pofition  I  fhall  fimply  contraft  with  a  conclufion, 
which  I  have  frequently  heard  fall  from  fenfible  men 
in  favour  of  an  ariftocracy  :  that  the  mafs  of  mankind 
cannot  be  any  thing,  or  the  obfequious  flaves,  who  pa 
tiently  allow  tfiemfelves  to  be  penned  up,  would  feel 
their  own  confequence,  and  fpurn  their  chains.  Men, 
they  further  obferve,  fubmit  every  where  to  opprefuon> 
when  they  have  only  to  lift  up  their  heads  to  throw  off 
the  yoke;  yet,  inflead  of  averting  their  birthright, 
they  quietly  lick  the  duft,  and  fay,  let  us  eat  and 
drink,  for  to-morrow  we  die.  Women,  I  argue  from 
analogy,  are  degraded  by  the  fame  propensity  to  enjoy 
the  prefent  moment ;  and,  at  laft,  defpife  the  freedom 
which  they  have  not  fufficient  virtue  to  ftruggle  to  at 
tain.  But  I  muft  be  more  explicit. 

With  refpea  to  the  culture  of  the  heart,  it  is  una- 
nimoufly  allowed  that  fex  is  out  of  the  queflion ;  but 
the  line  of  fubordination  in  the  mental  powers  is  never 
to  be  palled  over.*  Only  <  abfolute  in  lovelinefs,'  die 

*  Into  ivbat  inconfijlencits  do  men  fall  -when  they  argue  -without  tLe 
tompafs  of  principles.  Women,  -weak  -women ,  are  comfartd  with  an. 
felt  ;  yet  afuperivr  order  of  beings  Jhould  bt  fuppoftd  («  fcftft  mtrt 


Do  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

portion  of  rationality  granted  to  woman  is,  indeed, 
very  {canty  ;  for,  denying  her  genius  and  judgment, 
it  is  fcarcely  poilible  to  divine  what  remains  to  charac 
terize  intellect. 

The  ilamina  of  immortality,  if  I  may  be  allowed 
the  phrafe,  is  the  perfectibility  of  human  reafon  j  for, 
was  man  created  perfect,  or  did  a  flood  of  knowledge 
-  break  in  upon  him,  when  he  arrived  at  maturity,  that 
precluded  error,  I  mould  doubt  whether  his  exiilence 
would  be  continued  after  the  diflblution  of  the  body. 
But,  in  the  prefent  Hate  of  things,  every  difficulty  in 
morals,  that  efcapes  from  human  difcuflion,  and  equally 
baffles  the  iaveiligation  of  profound  thinking,  and 
the  lightning  glance  of  genius,  is  an  argument  on 
which  I  build  my  belief  of  the  immortality  of  the 
foul.  Reafon  is,  confequentially,  the  fimple  power  of 
improvement  ;  or,  more  properly  fpeaking,  of  difcern- 
ing  truth.  Every  individual  is  in  this  refpect  a  world 
in  itfelf.  More  or  lefs  may  be  confpicuous  in  .one  be 
ing  than  another ;  but  the  nature  of  reafon  mull  be  the 
fame  in  all,  if  it  be  an  emanation  of  divinity,  the  tie 
that  connects  the  creature  with  the  Creator ;  for,  can 
that  foul  be  {lamped  with  the  heavenly  image,  that  is 

inlcllefl  than  wan  ;  or  in  inhat  does  their  fuperiority  conjijl  ?  In  tht 
Jiuxe  JTyle,  to  dro'J  the  fiieer,  they  art  allotved  to  pc/Jefs  more  goodiiefs 
of  heart)  piety  and  benevolence. — /  doubt  the  fafl,  though  it  be  c'lur- 
teoit/ly  brought  forward,  unhfs  ignorance  be  alkiucd  to  be  the  mother  of 
devotion  ;  for  I  am  firmly  pcrfuaded^  thatt  on  an  averagey  the  propoi'- 
t'if>'i  hdivecn  virtue  and  knowledge  is  more  upon  a  par  than  is  (ommoxly 
granted. 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN.  89 

not  perfected  by  the  exercife  of  ks  o.vn  reafonr*  Yet 
outwardly  ornamented  with  re,  and  fo 

adorned  to  delight  man,  «  that  with  honour  he  may 
'  love,'  f  the  foul  of  woman  is  not  allowed  to  have 
this  diftinclion,  anJ  man,  ever  placed  between  her  and 
reafon,  flic  'y  created  to  fee 

through 'a  g  .  and  to    I  tgs  en  trull. 

But,  d.  :iful  theories,  and  considering 

woman  as  a  whole,  let  it  be  what  it  will,  inflcad  of  a 
part  of  man,  the  inquiry  is,  whether  flic  has  reafon  or 
not.  If  file  has,  which,  for  a  moment,  I  will  take  for 
granted,  (he  was  not  created  merely  to  be  the  folace 
of  man,  and  the  fexual  fhould  not  dsflroy  the  human 
character. 

Into  this  error  men  have,  probably,  been  led  by 
viewing  education  in  a  falfe  light  ;  not  confidering  it 
as  the  firft  ilep  to  form  a  being  advancing  gradually 
towards  perfection  ;  J  but  only  as  a  preparation  for 
life.  On  this  fenfual  error,  for  I  muft  call  it  fo,  has 
the  falfe  fyftem  of  female  manners  been  reared,  which 
robs  the  whole  fex  of  its  dignity,  and  claiTes  the  brown 
and  fair  with  the  fmiling  flowers  that  only  adorn  the 
land.  This  has  ever  been  the  language  of  men,  and 
the  fear  of"  departing  from  a  fuppofed  fexual  charac. 

*  The  brutes^fays  Lo>d  MonlodJo,  '  rcnain  in  ih?  fiate  in  ivl'ich 
«  nature  bat  placed  f  lent,  except  in  fo  far  as  tlelr  natural  injl'ncl  is 
'  improved  by  the  culture  we  befioiu  upon  ilc;:iC 

f    Vide   Milton. 

J  This  ivor  d  is  not  fir  icily  juft,  l:tt  I  ca"tiot  find  a  Letter » 

I    2. 


fc>  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

t-jr,  has  made  even  women  of  fuperior  fenfe  adopt  the 
fame  fentiments.  *  Thus  underftanding,  ftri&ly  fpeak- 
ing,  has  been  denied  to  woman ;  and  inflincl,  fubli- 
mated  into  wit  and  cunning,  for  the  purpofes  of  life, 
has  been  fubftituted  in  its  flead. 

The  power  of  generalizing  ideas,  of  drawing  com- 
preheniive  conclufions  from  individual  obfervations,  is 
the  only  acquirement  for  an  immortal  being,  that  really 
deferves  the  name  of  knowledge.  Merely  to  obferve, 

*   '  Pleasure's  tie  portion  of  t/S  inferior  kind ; 
f  But  glory,  virtue,  Heaven  for  man  defignd. 

After  writing  thefe  lines,  loiu  tsuld  Mrs,  Batlaitld  "Mriictlc  fcl'~ 
lewing  igtivble  ccmfarifon  ? 

*  To  a  Lady  with  feme  painted  flowers.' 

*  flowers  io  tie  fair  :  to  you  thefe  floiuers  I  bring, 

*  Ana.  firii>e  to  greet  you  ivitb  an  earlhr  Jpring^ 

*  flower  si  •-?•'•>.?  i,  andgiv,  and  delicate  like  you  ; 

*  Emblems  of  innocence,  and  beauty  too. 

*  Wttbf.'jivers  the  Graces  bind  their  ycHotv  lair, 

*  Andfioivery  ivrcatls  confenting  lovsrs  ivear. 
1  FloivfiS)  ibc  fole  luxury  which  nature  kxeiv, 
1  In  Eden's  pure  and  gtiililefs  garden  greiv. 

*  To  loftier  j It ms  arc  rougher  tc-Jks  vjjlgrfd, 
'  Tbefcslteri**  oak  rt/ijls  thcformy  ivind : 
1  The  tougher  yci<j  repch   invading  foes, 

*  And  the  tall  fine  for future  navies  groius  ; 
4  But  this  f  oft  family  i  to  cares  unknown, 

*  \Verc  born  for  picgfure  and  delig&t  alon*. 

*  (ray  ivttbou*  toil,  and  lovely  without  art, 

*  'TbeyJfrittgto'clM&fa.fenJtt  and  glad  the   heart, 
4  Nor  llujb,  my  fair,  to  own  you  copy  tlefe  ; 

1  Tyur  left,  your  fweetefl,  empire  is  — to  pleafe.* 

5-  tbt  men  tell  us  :    b;:t  virtue  muf,  •  l>y  rough  tti/s,  an* 

. :  -&'..ih  worldly  carts. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  QI 

Without  endeavouring  to  account  for  any  tiling,  may, 
(in  a  very  incomplete  manner)  ferve  as  the  common 
fenfe  of  life  ;  but  where  is  the  ftore  laid  up  that  is  to 
clothe  the  foul  when  it  leaves  the  body  ? 

This  power  has  not  only  been  denied  to  women  ;  but 
writers  have  infilled  that  it  is  inconfifient,  with  a  few 
exceptions;  with  their  fexual  character.  L^t  men  prove 
this,  and  I  frail  grant  that  woman  on!y  exift.-i  for  man. 
I  muit,  howevc/  oower 

of  generalizing  ideas,  to  any  great  extent,  is  not  very 
common  amongft  men  or  women.  Hut  this  exerciie  is 
the  true  cultivation  of  the  underfhnding  ;  and  every 
thing  confpires  to  render  the  cultivation  of  the  ur.dcr- 
fian-img  more  diliicukin  the  female  than 

I  am  naturally  led  by  this  afTertion  to  the  m 
of  the  prelent  chapter,  and  mail  now  r. 
out  fome  of  the  cvafes  that  degrade  th 
vent  womcrt  from  generaliziug  t 

I  mail  not    go  b.ick  to   t.ie  remo'ce  a.in.ils  of  anti 
quity  to  trace  the  hiftory  of  wjm.n  ;    J 
Callow,  that  me  has  always  been  eit  .  e  or  a  def- 

|pot;  and  to  remark,  that  each  of  thefe  utuitions  e 

Is    the   progrefs  of  reafon. 
female    Lily   and    vice  has    ever    appeared   to    r:e  to 

'Voni  narrow.nefs  of  mind  ;  and  the  ve 
tion  of  civil    governments   has  put  almoft   infuperable 
obftaclca  in  me  way  to  prevent  the  cultivation  of  the 
female  imderftanding  : — yet  virtue  can  be  built  on  no 
other  foundation  I  Yhe  fame  obfracles  are  thrown  in  the 
way  of  the  rich,  and  the  fame  confequences  enfue. 
13 


^2  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

Neceflity  has  been  proverbially  termed  the  mother  of 
invention — the  apliorifm  may  be  extended  to  virtue. 
It  is  an  acquirement,  and  an  acquirement  to  which  plea- 
fare  mail  be  ficrificecl — and  who  facrifices  pleafure  when 
it  is  within  the  graip,  whofe  mind  has  not  been  opened 
and  ftrengthened  by  adverfity,  or  the  purfuit  of  know 
ledge  goaded  on  by  neceflity  r — Happy  is  it  when  peo 
ple  hive  the  cares  of  life  to  ftruggle  with;  for  thefe 
lit  their  becoming  a  prey  to  enervating 
i  ..uy  from  idleness !  But,  if  from  their  birth 
"/omen  are  placed  in  a  torrid  zone,  with  the 
•in  fun  of  pleaiure  darting  diredlly  upon  them, 
now  can  they  fufnciently  brace  their  minds  to  difcharge 
the  duties  of  life,  or  even  to  reliili  the  affections  that 
carry  them  cut  of  themfelves  ? 

Pleafure  is  the  bufmeis  of  a  woman's  life,  according 
to  the  prefent  modification  of  focie;y,  and  while  it  con 
tinues  to  be  fo,  little  can  be  expected  from  fuch  weak 
beings.  Inheriting,  in  a  lineal  defcent  from  the  fir  ft 
fair  defeft  in  nature,  the  fovereignty  of  beauty,  they 
have,  to  maintain  their  power,  refign^d  the  natural 
rights,  which  the  exercife  of  reafon  might  have  pro 
cured  them,  and  chofen  rather  to  be  mort-lived  queens 
than  labour  to  attain  the  fobe*-  plea  fares  that  arife  from 
equality.  Exalted  by  their  inferiority  (this  founds  like 
a  contradiction)  they  con.lantly  demand  homage  as  wo 
men,  though  experience  fhould  teach  them  that  the  men 
who  pride  themfelves  upon  paying  this  arbitrary  info- 
lent  rcfpefl  to  the  fcx,  with  the  rr.oft  ftrupulous  exaft- 
nefs,  are  jr.o.l-inclined  to  tyrannise  over,  and  defpife 


RIGHTS   OF    WOMAN'.  93 

the  very  weaknefs  they  cherifh.  Often  do  they  repeat 
Mr.  Hume's  fentiments  ;  when,  comparing  the  French 
and  Athenian  character,  he  alludes  to  women.  '  But 

*  what  is  more  fmgular  in  this  whimfical  nation,  fay  I 
1  to  the  Athenians,  is,  that  a  frolic  of  yours  during  the 
1  Saturnalia,   when  the   naves  are  ferved  by  their  maf- 

*  ters,  is  ferioufly  continued  by  them  through  the  whole 

*  year,  and   through  the  whole  courfe  of  their  lives  ; 
4  accompanied  too  with  fome  circumflances,  which  fcill 
'  further  augment  the   abfurdity  and    ridicule.     Your. 

*  fport  only  elevates  for  a  few  days,  thofe  whom  fortune 

*  has  thrown  down,  and  whom  me   too,  in  fport,  may 

*  really  elevate   for   ever   above  you.     But  this  nation 

*  gravely  exalts  thofe,    whom   nature  has  fubjecled  to 
'  them,  and  whofe  inferiority  and  infirmities  are  abfo- 

*  lutely  incurable.     The  women,    though  without   vir- 
f  tue,  are  their  matters  and  fovereigns.' 

Ah  !  why  do  women,  I  write  with  affectionate  foli- 
citude,  condeicend  to  receive  a  degree  of  attention  and 
refpetl  from  Grangers,  different  from  that  reciprocation 
of  civility  which  the  dictates  of  humanity,  and  the  po- 
litenefs  of  civilization  authorife  between  man  and  man  ? 
And  why  do  they  not  difcover,  when  f  in  the  noon  of 
beauty's  power*  that  they  are  treated  like  queens  only 
to  be  deluded  by  hollow  refpecl,  till  they  are  led  to 
refign,  or  not  afiume,  their  natural  prerogatives  ?  Con 
fined  then  in  cages,  like  the  feathered  race,  they  have 
nothing  to  do  but  to  plume  themfelves,  and  ihilk  with 
mock-majefty  from  perch  to  perch.  It  is  true,  they  are 
provided  with  food  and  raiment,  for  which  they  nei~ 


94  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

ther  toil  nor  fpin ;  but  health,  liberty,  and  virtue  are 
given  in  exchange.  But,  where,  amoRgft  mankind  has 
been  found  fufficient  ilrength  of*  mind  to  enable  a  being 
to  refign  thefe  adventitious  prerogatives  ;  one  \v,io, 
rifing  with  the  calm  dignity  of  reaion  abc^re  opinion, 
dared  to  be  proud  of  the  privileges  inherent  in  man  ? 
and  it  is  vain  to  expect  it  whilft  hereditary  power  chokes 
the  affections,  and  nips  reafon  in  the  bud. 

Trie  pillions  of  men  have  thus  placed  women  on 
t  5>  .;na,  till  mankind  become  more  reafon^ble,  it 

is  to  le  fe.-^ed  that  women  will  av.dl  themselves  of  the 
pou  jr  which  they  attain  witn  the  leaft  exertion,  and 
wnich  is  the  moft  indiiputable.  ri  hey  will  fmile — yes, 
they  will  imiie,  though  told  that — 

*  In  beauty's  empire  is  no  meant 

*  Ji#divoma»,  either  jlervc  or  queen* 

*  Is  quickly J corn  d  fmi  en  not  adoi  d. 

But  the  adoration  comes  firfl,  and  the  fcorn  is  not  an 
ticipated. 

Lewis  the  XlVth,  in  particular,  fpread  factitious 
manners,  and  caught  in  a  fpecious  way,  the  whole  na 
tion  in  his  toils  ;  for  eftabiiiliing  an  artful  chain  of  def- 
p-ctifm,  he  niaae  it  ihe  intereft  of  the  people  at  large, 
individually  to  rdpecfc  his  fiation,  and  fupport  his 
power.  And  women,  whom  he  flattered  by  a  puerile 
attention  to  the  whole  lex,  obtained  in  his  reign  that 
prince-like  diftinction  fo  fatal  to  reafon  and  virtue. 

A  king  is  always  a  king — and  a  woman  always  a 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  95 

woman  :  *  his  authority  and  her  fex,  ever  ftand  between 
them  and  rational  converfe.  With  a  lover,  I  grant  ihe 
fhould  be  fo,  and  her  fenfibility  will  naturally  lead  her 
to  endeavour  to  excite  emotion,  not  to  gratify  her  va 
nity  but  her  heart.  This  I  do  not  allow  to  be  coquettry, 
it  is  the  artlefs  impulfe  of  nature,  I  only  exclaim  againfl 
the  fexual  defire  of  conqueft,  when,  the  heart  is  out  of 
the  queftion. 

This  defire  is  not  confined  to  women  ;  '  I  have  en- 
'  deavoured, '  fays  Lord  Chefterfield,  'to  gain  the  hearts 
t  of  twenty  women,  whofe  perfons  I  would  not  have 

given  a  fig  for. '  The  libertine,  who  in  a  guft  of  paf- 
fion,  takes  advantage  of  unfufpeding  tendernefs,  is  a 
faint  when  compared  with  this  cold-hearted  raical  ; 
for  I  like  to  ufe  fignificant  words.  Yet  only  taught  to 
pleafe,  women  are  always  on  the  watch  to  pleafe,  and 
with  true  heroic  ardour  endeavour  to  gain  hearts  merely 
to  refign,  or  fpurn  them,  when  the  victory  is  decided, 
and  confpicuous. 

I  muit  defcend  to  the  minutiae  of  the  fubjeft. 

I  lament  that  women  are  fyftematically  degraded  by 
receiving  the  trivial  attentions,  which  men  think  it  man 
ly  to  pay  to  the  fex,  when,  in  fadl,  they  are  infultingly 
fupporting  their  own  fuperiority.  It  is  not  condefcen- 
fion  to  bow  to  an  inferior.  So  ludicrous,  in  fa&,  do 
thefe  ceremonies  appear  to  me  that  I  fcarcely  am  able 
to  govern  my  mufcles,  when  I  fee  a  man  ilart  with 

*  And  a  iv'tt  always  a  ivit,  might  be  added ;  for  the  va.'rn  fooleries, 
tf  ivlts  and  beauties  to  attain  attention^  and  make  conyuejls J  are  muck 
upon  a  par. 


96  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

eager,  and  ferious  folicitude  to  lift  a  handkerchief,  or 
fhut  a  door,  when  the  lady  could  have  done  it  herfelf, 
had  ihe  only  moved  a  pace  or  two. 

A  wild  wiih  has  juil  flown  from  my  heart  to  my 
head,  and  I  will  not  ftifle  it  though  it  may  excite  a  horfe- 
laugh. — I  do  earneilly  wifh  to  fee  the  diflinction  of  fex 
confounded  in  fociety,  unlefs  where  love  animates  the 
behaviour.  For  this  diflindion  is,  I  am  firmly  perfuad- 
ed,  the  foundation  of  the  weaknefs  of  character  afcribed 
to  woman;  is  the  caufe  why  the  underftanding  is  ne 
glected,  whilft  accomplishments  are  acquired  with  fe- 
dulouscare:  and  the  fame  caufe  accounts  for  their  pre 
ferring  the  graceful  before  the  heroic  virtues. 

Mankind,  including  every  defcription,  wifh  to  be 
loved  and  refpectedforyc^/>&z#g-;  and  the  common  herd 
will  always  take  the  neareft  road  to  the  completion  of 
their  wiflies.  The  refpect  paid  to  wealth  and  beauty  is 
the  moft  certain  and  unequivocal;  and,  of  conrfe,  will 
always  attract  the  vulgar  eye  of  common  minds.  Abi 
lities  and  virtues  are  abfolu^ely  neceflary  to  raife  men, 
from  the  middle  rank  of  life  into  notice;  and  the  natu 
ral  confequence  is  notorious,  the  middle  rank  contains 
moil  virtue  and  abilities.  Men  have  thus,  in  one  ftation, 
?.t  lead,  an  opportunity  of  exerting  themfelves  with 
dignity,  and  of  rifmgby  the  exertions  which  really  im 
prove  a  L.tionr:!  :reature  ;  but  the  whole  female  fex  are, 
till  their  character  is  formed,  in  the  fame  condition  as 
the  rich  :  for  they  a.e  born,  I  now  fpeak  of  a  flate  of  ci 
vilization,  with  certain  fexual  privileges,  and  v/hilil  they 
are  gratuitoufly  granted  them,  few  will  ever  think  of 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  97 

works  of  fupererogation,  to  obtain  the  efteem  of  a  fmall 
number  of  fuperior  people. 

When  do  we  hear  of  women,  who,  ftarting  out  of 
obfcurity,  boldly  claim  refpeft  on  account  of  their  great 
abilities  or  daring  virtues?  Where  are  they  to  be  found? 
— e  To  be  obferved,  to  be  attended  to,  to  be  taken  no- 
'  tice  of  with  fympathy,  complacency,  and  approbation, 
*  are  all  the  advantages  which  they  feek.' — True  !  my 
male  readers  will  probably  exclaim ;  but  let  them,  be 
fore  they  draw  any  conclufion,  recoiled,  that  this  was 
not  written  originally  as  defcriptive  of  women,  but  of 
the  rich.  In  Dr.  Smith's  Theoiy  of  Moral  Sentiments, 
I  have  found  a  general  character  of  people  of  rank  and 
fortune,  that,  in  my  opinion,  rnighfriwith  the  greateft 
propriety  be  applied  to  the  female  fex.  I  refer  the  fa- 
gacious  reader  to  the  whole  comparifon;  but  muil  be 
allowed  to  quote  a  PalTage  to  enforce  an  argument  that 
I  mean  to  infift  on,  as  the  one  mofl  conclufive  againft  a 
fexual  character.  For  if,  excepting  warriors,  no  great 
men,  of  any  denomination,  have  ever  appeared  amongft 
the  nobility,  may  it  not  be  fairly  inferred,  that  their 
local  fituation  fwallowed  up  the  man,  and  produced  a 
character  fimilar  to  that  of  women,  who  are  localized, 
if  I  may  be  allowed  the  word,  by  the  rank  they  are 
placed  in,  by  courtefy?  Women,  coinironly  called  La 
dies,  are  not  to  be  contradicted  in  Company,  are  not 
allowed  to  exert  any  manurl  ftrength ;  *r-d  from  them 
the  negative  virtues  only  are  expeCled,  when  any  vir 
tues  are  expected,  patience,  docility,  good-humour, 
and  flexibility  ;  virtues  incompatible  with  uny  vigorous 


98  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

exertion  of  intellect.  Befides,  by  living  more  with 
each  other,  and  being  feldom  abfolutely  alone,  they  are 
more  under  the  influence  of  fentiments  than  paffions. 
Solitude  and  reflection  are  neceflary  to  give  to  wii'hes 
the  force  of  paffions,  and  to  enable  the  imagination  to 
enlarge  the  object,  and  make  it  the  molt  defirable.  The 
fame  may  be  faid  of  the  rich  ;  they  do  not  fufficiently 
deal  in  general  ideas,  collected  by  impafiionate  think 
ing,  or  calm  inveftigation,  to  acquire  that  ftrength  of 
character,  on  which  great  refolves  are  built.  But  hear 
what  an  acute  obferver  fays  of  the  great. 
.  f  Do  the  great  feem  infenfible  of  the  eafy  price  at 

*  which  they  may   acquire  the   public  admiration?  or 
1  do  they  feem  to  imagine,   that  to  them,  as  to  other 

*  men,  it  muft  be  the  purchafe  either  of  fweat  or  of 
'  blood  ?     By  what  important  accompli Ihments  is  the 

*  young  nobleman  inftructed  to  fupport  the  dignity  of 
'  his  rank,  and  to  render  himfelf  worthy  of  that  fupe- 

*  riority  over  his  fellow  citizens,  to  which  the  virtue 
'  of  his  ancestors  had  raifed  them  ?     Is  it  by   know- 
6  ledge,  by  induftry,  by  patience,   by  felf-denial,  or 
(  by  virtue  of  any  kind  ?     As  all  his  words,  as  all  his 
'  motions  are  attended  to,  he  learns  an  habitual  regard 

*  every  circumstance  of  ordinary  behaviour,  and  Ihi- 

*  dies  to  perform  all  thofe  fmall  duties  with  the  moft 
c  exact  propriety.     As  he  is  confcious  how  much  he 
'  is  obferved,  and  how  much  mankind  are  difpofed  to 

*  favour  all  his   inclinations,  he  acts,  upon  the   moft 

*  indifferent  occafions,  with  that  freedom  and  elevation 
'  which  the  thought  of  this  naturally  infpires.     His 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  99 

air,  his  manner,  his  deportment,  all  mark  that  elegant 
and  graceful  fenfe  of  his  own  fuperiority,  which  thofe 
who  are  born  to  an  inferior  {ration  can  hardly  ever  ar- 
*:  rive  at.  Thefe  are  the  arts  by  which  he  propofes  to 
make  mankind  more  eafily  fubmit  to  his  authority,  and 
to  govern  their  inclinations  according  to  his  own  plea- 
fure :  and  in  this  he  is  feldom  difappointed.  Thefe 
arts,  fupported  by  rank  and  pre-eminence,  are,  upon 
ordinary  occafions,  fufScient  to  govern  the  world. 
Lewis  XIV.  during  the  greater  part  of  his  reign, 
was  regarded,  not  only  in  France,  but  over  all  Eu 
rope,  as  the  moft  perfect  model  of  a  great  prince. 
But  what  were  the  talents  and  virtues,  by  which  he 
acquired  this  great  reputation  ?  Was  it  by  the  fcm- 
pulous  and  inflexible  juitice  of  all  his  undertakings, 
by  the  immenfe  dangers  and  difficulties  with  which 
they  were  attended,  or  by  the  unwearied  and  unre 
lenting  application  with  which  he  purfued  them? 
Was  it  by  his  extenfive  knowledge,  by  his  exquifite 
judgment,  or  by  his  heroic  valour  ?  It  was  by  none 
of  thefe  qualities.  But  he  was,  firfl  of  all,  the  moft 
powerful  prince  in  Europe,  and  confequently  held 
the  highefl  rank  among  kings;  and  then,  fays  his 
hiftorian,  "  he  furpaffed  all  his  courtiers  in  the  grace- 
'  fulnefs  of  his  mape,  and  the  majeftic  beauty  of  hi* 
'  features.  The  found  of  his  voice,  noble  and  afFe£l- 
1  ing,  gained  thofe  hearts  which  his  prefence  intimi- 
'  dated.  He  had  a  ftep  and  a  deportment,  which 
'  could  fuit  only  him  and  his  rar.k,  and  which  would 
*  have  been  ridiculous  in  any  other  perfon.  The  em- 
K 


ICO  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

<(  barra{iment  which  he  occafioned  to  thofe  who  fpok«'| 
**  to  him,  flattered  that  fecret  fatisfa&icn  with  which] 
"  he  felt  his  own  fuperiority."  Thefe  frivolous  ac-g 
e  .complifhments,  fupported  by  his  rank,  and,  no  doubt  J 
*  too,  by  a  degree  of  other  talents  and  virtues,  which  I 
«  feems,  however,  not  to  have  been  much  above  medio-J 
f  crity,  eftabliihed  this  prince  in  the  efteem  of  his  own] 
e  age,  and  have  drawn,  even  from  poilerity,  a  good) 
'  deal  of  refpect  for  his  memory.  Compared  with' 
'  thefe,  in  his  own  times,  and  in  his  own  prefence,  no  I 
'  other  virtue,  it  feems,  Appeared  to  have  any  merit.  8 
'  Knowledge,  induliry,  valour,  and  beneficence,  trem-j 
«  bling,  were  abafhed,  and  loft  all  dignity  before  them.H 
Woman,  alfo,  thus  <  in  herfelf  complete,*  by  pof~ 
"fefling  all  thefe  frivolous  accomplifhments,  fo  changes 
the  nature  of  things, 

• '  That  what  Jie  tuilh  io  do  or  fay 

«  Seems  iv  if  if,   virtuoufefl,   difcreetejl.   Left ; 
'  All  higher  Imivledge  in  her  prefence  falls 
'  Degraded.      TVtfdom  in  difcourfe  "with  her 
'  i, fifes  difionntencinc'cl,  and  like  Folly  fioius-; 
4  Authority  and  Rfafon  on  her  •wait.1 — 

And  all  this  is  built  on  her  lovelinefs ! 

In  the  middle  rank  of  life,  to  continue  the  compan 
ion,  men,  in  their  youth,  are  prepared  for  profeflions, 
and  marriage  is  not  confidered  as  the  grand  feature  in 
their  lives ;  whilft  women,  on  the  contrary,  have  no 
other  fcherne  to  fharpen  their  faculties.  It  is  not  bufi- 
nefs,  extenfive  plans,  or  any  of  the  excurfive  flights 
cf  ambition,  that  engrofs  their  attention  j  no,  their 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN".  101 

thoughts  are  not  employed  in  rearing  fuch  noble  flruc- 
tures.  To  rife  in  the  world,  and  have  the  liberty  of 
tanning  from  pleafure  to  pleafure,  they  muft  marry 
'advantageoufly,  and  to  this  object  their  time  is  facrL 
ficed,  and  their  perfons  often  legally  proftituted.  A 
man,  when  he  enter  any  profeilion,  has  his  eye  {readily 
flxed  on  fome  future  advantage  (and  the  mind  gains 
great  flrength  by  having  all  its  efforts  di reeled  to  one 
point)  and,  full  of  his  bufmefs,  pleafure  is  coniidered 
as  mere  relaxation ;  whilft  women  feek  .for  pleafure  z* 
the  main  purpofe  of  exigence.  In  fact,  from  the  edr. 
cation  which  they  receive  from  fociety,  the  love  of 
plealiire  may  be  faid  to  govern  them  ail ;  bat  does 
this  prove  that  there  is  a  fex  in  fouls  ?  It  would  be  juic 
as  rational  to  declare,  that  the  courtiers  in  France,  when 
a  deilruclive  fyftem  of  defpotifm  had  formed  their  cha 
racter,  were  not  men,  becaufe  liberty,  virtue,  and  human 
ity,  were  facrificed  to  pleafure  and  vanity. — Fatal  paf- 
fions,  which  have  ever  domineered  over  the  whole  race  ! 

The  fame  love  of  pleafure,  foftered  by  the  whole 
tendency  of  their  education,  gives  a  trifling  turn  to 
the  conduft  of  women  in  moil  circumftances :  for  in- 
ftance,  they  are  ever  anxious  about  fecondary  things ; 
and  on  the  watch  for  adventures,  inftead  of  being  oc 
cupied  by  duties. 

A  man,  when  he  undertakes  a  journey,  has,  in  ge 
neral,  the  end  in  view ;  a  woman  thinks  more  of  the 
incidental  occurrences,  the  ftrange  things  that  may 
poflibly  occur  on  the  road;  the  impreffion  that  me  may 
make  on  her  fellow-travellers  j  and,  above  all,  me  is 
Kz. 


IO2  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

anxioufly  intent  on  the  care  of  the  finery  that  flic  car 
ries  with  her,  which  is  more  than  ever  a  part  of  her-  < 
felf,  when  going  to  figure  on  a   new  fcene ;  when,  to 
ufe  an  apt  French  tarn  of  expreflion,  flie  is  going   to  , 
produce  a  fenfation.—Can  dignity  of  mind   exift  with 
iuch  trivial  cares  ? 

In  fhort,  women,  in  general,  as  well  as  the  rich  of  both ; 
fexes,  have  acquired  all  the  follies  and  vices  of  civiliza-  i 
tlon,  and  miffed  the  ufeful  fruit.    It  is  not  necefiary  for  ; 
jne  always  to  premife,  that  I  fpeak  of  the  condition  of! 
The  whole  fex,  leaving   exceptions  out  of  the  queilion.:< 
Their  fenfes   are   inflamed,    and   their   underftandingg 
neglected  ;  confequently  they  become  the  prey  of  their 
il-nies.    delicately  termed   fenfibility,    and   are  blown 
xibotit  by  every  momentary  guft  of  feeling.     They  are, 
therefore,  in  a  much  worfe  condition  than  they  would 
be  in,  were  they  in  a  ftate  nearer  to  nature.    Ever  relt- 
lefs   and    anxious,  their  ovcr-exercifed   fenfibility  not 
only  renders  them  uncomfortable  themfelves,  but  trou- 
blefome,  to  ufe  a  foft   phrafe,    to   others.     All   their 
thoughts  turn  on  things  calculated  to   excite   emotion; 
and,  feeling,  when   they   mould  reafon,  their  conduct 
is  unftable,  and  their  opinions   are  wavering — not  the  i 
wavering  produced  by  deliberation  or  progreffive  views, 
but  by  contradictory  emotions.     By  fits  and  Harts  they 
are   warm  in  many  purfuits;  yet  this  warmth,  never 
concentrated  into  perfeverance,    foon   exhaufts  itfelf  j 
exhaled  by  its  own  heat,  or  meeting  with  fome  other., 
fleeting  pailion,  to  which   reafon  has  never  given  any 
fpeciiic  gravity,  neutrality  enfues.     Mifcrable,  indeed, 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN. 

muft  be  that  being  whofe  cultivation  of  mind  has  only 
tended  to  inflame  its  paffions!  A  difdnction  mould  be 
made  between  inflaming  and  ilrengthening  them.  The 
paffions  thus  pampered,  whilit  the  judgment  is  left  un 
formed,  what  can  be  expected  to  enfue? — Undoubtedly, 
a  mixture  of  madnefs  and  folly  ! 

This  obfervation  mould  not  be  confined  to  the  fair 
fex ;  however,  at  prefcnt,  I  only  mean  to  apply  it  to 
them. 

Novels,  mufic,  poetry  and  gallantry,  all  tend  to  make 
women  the  creatures  of 'fenfation,  and  their  character  is 
thus  formed  during  the  time  they  are  acquiring  accom- 
plimments,  the  only  improvement  they  are  excited,  by 
their  ftation  in  fociety,  to  acquire.  This  overftretched 
fenfibility  naturally  relaxes  the  other  powers  of  the  mind, 
and  prevents  intellect  from  attaining  that  fovereignty 
which  it  ought  to  attain,  to  render  a  rational  creature 
ufeful  to  others,  and  content  with  its  own  ftation  :  for 
the  exercife  of  the  underflanding,  as  life  advances,  is  the 
only  method  pointed  out  by  nature  to  calm  the  paffions. 

Satiety  has  a  very  different  effect,  and  I  have  often 
been  forcibly  flruck  by  an  emphatical  defcription  of 
damnation, — when  the  fpirit  is  reprefented  as  continu 
ally  hovering  with  abortive  eagernefs  round  the  defiled 
body,  unable  to  enjoy  any  thing  without  the  organs  of 
fenfe.  Yet,  to  their  fenfes,  are  women  made  (laves, 
becaufe  it  is  by  their  fenfibility  that  they  obtain  prefent 
power. 

And  will  moralifls  pretend  to  afTert,  that  this  is  the 
condition  in  which  one  half  of  the  human  race  fhould  be 


104  VINDICATION"   OF    THE 

encouraged  to  remain  with  liftlefs  inactivity  and  ftupid 
acquiescence  ?  Kind  inftruftors !  what  were  we  created 
for  ?  To  remain,  it  may  be  faid,  innocent ;  they  mean 
in  a  ftate  of  childhood. — We  might  as  well  never  have 
been  born,  unlefs  it  were  neceffary  that  we  mould  be 
created  to  enable  man  to  acquire  the  noble  privilege  of 
reafon,  the  power  of  difcerning  good  from  evil,  whilil 
we  lie  down  in  the  duft  from  whence  we  were  taken, 
never  to  rife  again. — 

It  would  be  an  endlefs  tafk  to  trace  the  variety  of 
meannefles,  cares,  and  forrows,  into  which  women  are 
plunged  by  the  prevailing  opinion,  that  they  were  created 
rather  to  feel  than  reafon,  and  that  all  the  power  they 
obtain,  mult  be  obtained  by  their  charms  and  weaknefs  : 

'  Fine  by  defett^  and  amiably  ivcak  /' 

And,  made  by  this  amiable  weaknefs  entirely  dependent, 
excepting  what  they  gain  by  illicit  fway,  en  man,  not 
only  for  protection,  but  advice,  is  it  furprifmg  that, 
neglecting  the  duties  that  reafon  alone  points  out,  and 
(blinking  from  trials  calculated  to  flrengthen  their 
minds,  they  only  exert  themfelves  to  give  their  defects 
a  graceful  covering,  which  may  ferve  to  heighten  their 
charms  in  the  eye  of  the  voluptuary,  though  it  fink 
them  below  the  fcale  of  moral  excellence  ? 

Fragile  in  every  fenfe  of  the  word,  they  are  obliged 
to  lookup  toman  for  every  comfort.  In  the  moil  triiiing 
dangers  they  cling  to  their  fupport,  with  parafitical  tena-  . 
city,   piteoully   demanding  fuccour;    and  their  natural 
protector  extends  his  arm,or  lifts  up  his  voice,  to  guard 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN.  105 

the  lovely  trembler — from  what?  Perhaps  the  frown  of 
an  old  cow,  or  the  jump  of  a  moufe;  a  rat,  would  be 
a  ferious  danger.  In  the  name  of  reafon,  and  even  com 
mon  fenfc,  what  can  iave  fuch  beings  from  contempt, 
even  though  they  be  foft  and  fair? 

Thefe  fears,  when  not  affected,  may  be  very  pretty; 
but  they  {hew  a  degree  of  imbecility,  that  degrades  a 
rational  creature  in  a  way  women  are  not  aware  of — for 
love  and  eileem  are  very  difiind  things. 

I  am  fully  perfuaded,  that  we  mould  hear  of  none  of 
thefe  infantine  airs,  if  girls  were  allowed  to  take  fuffi- 
cient  exercife,  and  not  confined  in  clofe  rooms  till  their 
mufcles  are  relaxed,  and  their  powers  of  digeftion  de- 
ftroyed.  To  carry  the  remark  {till  further,  if  fear  in 
girls,  inftead  of  being  cherimed,  perhaps,  created,  was 
treated  in  the  fame  manner  as  cowardice  in  boys,  we 
mould  quickly  fee  women  with  more  dignified  afpeds. 
It  is  true,  they  could  not  then  with  equal  propriety  be 
termed  the  fweet  flowers  that  fmile  in  the  walk  of  man; 
but  they  would  be  more  refpedtable  members  of  fociety, 
and  difcharge  the  important  duties  of  life  by  the  light 
of  their  own  reafon.  '  Educate  women  like  men,'  fays 
Roufleau,  *  and  the  more  they  refemble  our  fex  the  lefs 
'  power  will  they  have  over  us.J  This  is  the  very  point 
I  aim  at.  I  do  not  wifli  them  to  have  power  over  men; 
but  over  themfelves. 

In  the  fame  ftrain  have  I  heard  men  argue  againft 
inftrufting  the  poor ;  for  many  are  the  forms  that  arifto- 
cracy  affumes.  *  Teach  them  to  read  and  write,'  fay 
they,  '  and  you  take  them  out  of  the  flation  affigned 


IC6  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

e  them  by  nature.'  An  eloquent  Frenchman  has  an- 
fwered  themj'  I  will  bofrow  his  fentiments.  But  they 
know  not,  when  they  make  man  a  brute,  that  they  may 
expect  every  inftant  to  fee  him  transformed  into  a  feroci 
ous  beaft.  \Vithout  knowledge  there  can  be  no  morality  ! 

Ignorance  is  a  frail  bafe  for  virtue !  Yet,  that  it  is  the 
condition  for  which  woman  was  organized,  has  been 
infilled  upon  by  the  writers  who  have  mod  vehemently 
argued  in  favour  of  the  fuperiority  of  man;  a  fuperiority 
not  in  degree,  but  effence;  though,  to  foften  the  argu 
ment,  they  hare  laboured  to  prove,  with  chivalrous 
generofity,  that  the  fexes  ought  not  to  be  compared ;. 
man  was  made  to  reafon,  woman  to  feel :  and  that  toge 
ther,  £em  and  fpirit,  they  make  the  moil  perfect  whole, 
by  blending  happily  reafon  and  fenfibility  into  one 
character. 

And  what  is  fenfibility?  '  Quicknefs  of  fenfation; 
*  quicknefs  of  perception;  delicacy.'  Thus  it  is  defined; 
by  Dr.  Johnfon;  and  the  definition  gives  me  no  other 
idea  than  of  the  moft  exquifitely  poliihed  inftinct.  I 
difcern  not  a  trace  of  the  image  of  God  in  eiiher  fenfa 
tion  or  matter.  Refined  feventy  times  feven,  they  are- 
ftill  material ;  intellect  dwells  not  there  ;  nor  will  fire 
ever  make  lead  gold ! 

I  come  round  to  my  old  argument;  if  woman  be  al 
lowed  to  have  an  immortal  foul,  me  muft  have,  as  the 
employment  of  life,  an  underitancling  to  improve.  And, 
when,  to  render  the  prefent  flute  more  complete,  though 
every  thing  proves  it  to  be  but  a  fraction  of  a  mighty 
fum,  fug  is  incited  by  prefent  gratification,  to  forget  hv- 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  10; 

grand  destination,  Nature  is  counteracted,  or  me  was 
born  only  to  procreate  and  rot.  Or,  granting  brutes, 
of  every  defcription,  a  foul,  though  not  a  reafonable  one, 
the  exercife  of  inftincl  and  fenfibility  may  be  the  ftep, 
which  they  are  to  take,  in  this  life,  towards  the  attain 
ment  of  reafon  in  the  next ;  fo  that  through  all  eternity 
they  will  lag  behind  man,  who,  why  we  cannot  tell, 
had  the  power  given  him  of  attaining  reafon  in  his  firft 
mode  of  exigence.  Hg£  m 

When  I  treat  of  the  peculiar  duties  of  .women,  as 
I  mould  treat  of  the  peculiar  duties  of  a  citizen  or  fa 
ther,  it  will  be  found  that  I  do  not  mean  to  infmuate, 
that  they  mould  be  taken  out  of  their  families,  fpeaking 
of  the  majority.  '  He  that  halh  wife  and  children,' 
fays  Lord  Bacon,  '  hath  given  hoitages  to  fortune  ; 
'  for  they  are  impediments  to  great  enterprifes,  either 
'  of  virtue  or  milchief.  Certainly  the  beft  works,  and 
'  of  greateft  merit  for  the  public,  have  proceeded  fnom 
f  the  unmarried  or  ohildlefs  men.'  I  fay  the  fame  of 
women.  But,  the  welfare  of  fociety  is  not  built  on  ex 
traordinary  exertions  ;  and  were  it  more  reafonably  or 
ganized,  there  would  be  ftill  lefs  need  of  great  abilities, 
or  heroic  virtues. 

In  the  regulation  of  a  family,  in  the  education  of 
children,  imderftanding,  in  an  unfophiiticated  fenfe,  is 
particularly  required  :  flrength  both  of  body  and  mind  ; 
yet  the  men  who,  by  their  writings,  have  moil:  earneftly 
laboured  to  domefxicate  women,  have  endeavoured  by 
arguments  dictated  by  a  grofs  appetite,  that  fatiety  had 
rendered  faflidious,  to  weaken  their  bodies  and  cramp 


I08  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

their  minds.  But,  if  even  by  thefe  fmifter  methods  they 
really  perfuaded  women,  by  working  on  their  feelings, 
to  Hay  at  home,  and  fulfil  the  duties  of  a  mother  and 
miftrefs  of  a  family,  I  mould  cautioufly  oppofe  opinions 
that  led  women  to  right  conduct,  by  prevailing  on  them 
to  make  the  difcharge  of  a  duty  the  bufinefs  of  life, 
though  reafon  were  infulted.  Yet,  and  I  appeal  to  ex 
perience,  if  by  neglecting  the  underftanding  they  are 
as  much,  nay,  more  attached  from  thefe  domerKc  duties, 
than  they  could  be  by  the  molt  ferious  intellectual  pur- 
fuit,  though  it  may  be  obferved,  that  the  mafs  of  man 
kind  will  never  vigoroufly  purfue  an  intellectual  ob 
ject*,  I  may  be  allowed  to  infer,  that  reafon  is  abfo- 
lutely  neceffary  to  enable  a  woman -to-  perform  any 
duty  properly,  and  I  muil  again  repeat,  that  fenfibility 

is  not  reafon. 

The  comparifon  with  the  rich  ftill  occurs  to  me  ; 

for,  when  men  neglect  the  duties  of  humanity,  women 
will  do  the  fame ;  a  common  ftrcam  hurries  them  both 
along  with  thoughtlefs  celerity.  Riches  and  honours, 
prevent  a  man  from  enlarging  his  underitanding,  and. 
enervate  all  his  powers,  by  reverfing  the  order  of  nature, 
which  has  ever  made  trwe  pleafure  the  reward  of  labour. 
Pleafure — enervating  pleafure  is,  likewife,  within  wo 
men's  reach  without  earning  it.  But,  till  hereditary 
porTeflions  are  fpread  abroad,  how  can  we  expect  men  to 
be  proud  of  virtue  ?  And,  till  they  are,  women  will 
govern  them  by  the  mod  direct  means,  neglecting  their 

*    ¥le  m*fs  of  manhin.d  are  ratbtr  tlejlaves  of  their  agpetitfs  tbatt 
vf  tbtir  fajTiotn, 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  109 

dull  domeftic  duties,  to  catch  the  pleafure  that  is  on  the 
wing  of  time. 

'  The  power  of  woman,'   fays  fome  author,  '  is  her 
••'  fenfibility  ;'  and  men,  not  aware  of  the  confequence, 
do  all  they  can  to  make  this  power   fwallow  up  every 
other,     Thofe  who  conftantly  employ  their  fenfibility 
will  have  moft :  for  example ;  poets,  painters,  and  com- 
pofers,*     Yet,  when  the  fenfibility  is   thus    increafed 
at  the  expenfe  of  reafon,   and    even  the   imagination, 
why  do  philofophical  men  complain  of  their  ficklenefs  ? 
The  fexual  attention   of  man  particularly  acts    on  fe 
male  fenfibility,  and  this  fympathy  has  been  exercifed 
from  their  youth  up.     A  huiband  cannot  long  pay  thofe 
attentions  with  the  paflion    neceflary  to   excite  lively 
emotions,  and  the  heart,  acjcuftomed  to  lively  emotions, 
turns  to  a  new  lover,  or  pines  in  fecret,  the  prey  of 
.virtue  or  prudence.     I  mean  when  the  heart  has  really 
been   rendered  fufceptible,  and   the  tafte  formed;  for 
J  am  apt  to  conclude,  from  what  I  have  feen  in  fafhion- 
able  life,  that  vanity  is  oftener  foftered  than  fenfibility 
by  the  mode  of  education,  and  the  intercourfe  between 
the  fexes,  which  I  have   reprobated  ;  and  that  conquet- 
try  more   frequently  proceeds  from  vanity  than  from 
that  inconftancy,  which  overtrained  fenfibility  naturally 
produces. 

Another  argument  that  has  had  a  great  weight  with 

*    JVTtn  oftbefe  defcriptions  pour  it  into  their  compactions,  to  amalga 
mate  iLi  grofs  materials  \  and^  moulding  them  <witb  pajfiont  give  to  tbi 
ine><  body  afoul;    but ,  in  ivomati's   imagination,  love  tlont  concentrates 
•  '  creal  l/eams. 


IIO  TINDICATJON    OF    THE 

me,  mufl,  I  think,  have  fome  force  with  every  confide- 
rate,  benevolent  heart.  Girls  who  have  been  thus 
weakly  educated,  are  often  cruelly  left  by  their  parents 
without  any  provifion ;  and,  of  courfe,  are  dependent 
on,  not  only  the  reafon,  but  the  bounty  of  their  bro 
thers.  Thefe  brothers  are,  to  view  the  faireft  fide  of 
the  queflon,  good  fort  of  men,  and  give  as  a  favour, 
what  children  of  the  fame  parents  had  an  equal  right  to, 
In  i his  equivoca1  humiliating  fituation,  a  docile  female 
may  remain  fome  time,  with  a  tolerable  degree  of  com- 
fo.t.  But,  when  the  brother  marries,  a  probable  cir- 
cumftance,  frcm  being  confidered  as  the  miftrefs  of  the 
family,  me  is  viewed  with  averted  looks  as  an  intruder, 
an  unneaflary  burden  on  the  benevolence  of  the  maf- 
ter  of  the  houfe,  and  his  new  partner, 

Whoc.-.n  recount  themifery,  which  many  unfortunate 
beings,  whofe  minds  and  bodies  are  equally  weak,  fuf- 
fer  in  fuch  iicuations — unable  to  work,  and  amamed  to 
beg  ?  The  wife,  a  cold-hearted,  narrow-minded  woman, 
and  this  is  not  an  unfair  fuppofition  ;  for  the  prefent 
mode  of  education  does  not  tend  to  enlarge  the  heart 
any  more  than  the  underftanding,  is  jealous  of  the  little 
kindnefs  which  her  hufband  mows  to  his  relations  ;  and 
her  ft-nfibiiity  not  rifmg  to  humanity,  me  is  difpleafed 
at  feeing  the  property  of  her  children  lavimed  on  an 
helplefs  fifcer. 

Thefe  are  matters  of  facl,.  which  have  come  under 
my  eye  again  and  again.  The  confequence  is  obvious, 
the  wife  has  recourfe  to  cunning  to  undermine  the  ha 
bitual  affection,  which  flie  is  afraid  openly  to  oppofe  ; 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  HI 

and  neither  tears  nor  careiTes  are  fpared  till  the  fpy  is 
worked  out  of  her  home,  and  thrown  on  the  world^ 
unprepared  for  its  difficulties  ;  or  fent,  as  a  great  ef 
fort  of  generofity,  or  from  fome  regard  to  propriety, 
with  a  fmall  ftipsnd,  and  an  uncultivated  mind  into  joy- 
lefs  folitude. 

Thefe  two  women  may  be  much  upon  a  par,  with 
refpe£l  to  reafon  and  humanity  ;  and  changing  fitua- 
tions,  might  have  acted  juft  the  fame  felfifh  part  ;  but 
kid  they  been  differently  educated,  the  cafe  would  aifo 
have  been  very  different.  The  wife  would  not  have  had 
that  fenfibility,  of  which  felf  is  the  centre,  and  reafon 
might  have  taught  her  not  to  expect,  and  not  even  to 
be  flattered  by  the  affection  of  her  hufband,  if  it  led 
him  to  violate  prior  duties.  She  would  wifh  not  to 
love  him,  merely  becaufe  he  loved  her,  but  on  account 
of  his  virtues ;  arid  the  fifter  might  have  been  able  to 
ftruggle  for  herfelf,  inilead  of  eating  the  bitter  bread 
of  dependence. 

I  am,  indeed,  perfuaded  that  the  heart,  as  well  as  the 
underftanding,  is  opened  by  cultivation  ;  and  by,  which 
may  not  appear  fo  clear,  ftrengthening  the  organs ;  I 
am  not  now  talking  of  momentary  ilaflies  of  fenfibility, 
but  of  affections.  And,  perhaps,  in  the  education,  of 
both  fexes,  the  moll  difficult  talk  is  fo  to  adjuft  inftruc- 
tion  as  not  to  narrow  the  underftandmg,  wliilit  I'K- 
heart  is  warmed  by  the  generous  juices  of  fpring,  jail 
raifed  by  the  electric  fermentation  of  the  feafon  ;  nor 
to  dry  up  the  feelings  by  employing  the  mind  in. 
tigations  remote  from  life. 

L 


112  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

With  refpeft  to  women,  when  they  receive  a  careful 
education,  they  are  either  made  fine  ladies,  brimful  of 
fenfibility,  and  teeming  with  capricious  fancies  ;  or 
mere  notable  women.  The  latter  are  often  friendly, 
honeit  creatures,  and  have  a  fhrevvd  kind  of  good  fenfe 
joined  with  worldly  prudence,  that  often  render  them 
more  ufeful  members  of  fociety  than  the  fine  fentimental 
lady,  though  they  pofTefs  neither  greatnefs  of  mind 
nor  uite.  The  intellectual  world  is  fhut  againil  them  ; 
take  them  out  of  their  family  or  neighbourhood,  and 
they  ftand  ftiil ;  the  mind  finding  no  employment,  for 
literature  affords  a  fund  of  amufement,  winch  they  have 
never  fought  to  reliih,  but  frequently  to  delpife.  The 
fentiments  and  tafte  of  more  cultivated  minds  appear 
ridiculous,  even  in  thofe  whom  chance  and  family  con 
nections  have  led  them  to  love  ,  but  in  mere  acquaint 
ance  they  think  it  all  affectation. 

A  man  of  fenie  can  only  love  fuch  a  woman  on  ac 
count  of  her  fex,  and  refpecl  her,  becaufe  me  is  a  trufty 
fervant.  He  lets  her,  to  preferve  his  own  peace,  icold 
the  fervants,  and  go  to  church  in  clothes  made  of  the 
very  belt  materials.  A  man  of  her  own  fize  of  under- 
flanding  would,  probably,  not  agree  fo  well  with  her  ; 
for  he  might  wii'h  to  encroach  on  her  prerogative,  and 
manage  fome  "\domeftic  concerns  himfelf.  Yet  women, 
whofe  minds  are  not  enlarged  by  cultivation,  or  the 
natural  felfiflinefs  of  fenfibility  expanded  by  rejection, 
are  very  unfit  to  manage  a  family ;  for,  by  an  undue 
flretch  cf  power,  thjy  are  always  tyrannizing  to  1 
a  fj-criorlty  that  only  re  Us  on  the  arbitrary  diltifidion 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  113 

cf  fortune.  The  evil  is  fometimes  more  ferious,  and 
domeflics  are  deprived  of  innocent  induigencies,  and 
made  to  work  beyond  their  flrength,  in  order  to  enable 
the  notable  woman  to  keep  a  better  table,  and  outfhine 
her  neighbours  in  finery  and  parade.  If  fiie  attend  to 
her  children,  it  is,  in  general,  to  drefs  them  in  a  cofily 
manner — and,  whether,  this  attention  arifes  from  vanity. 
or  fonJnefs,  it  is  equally  pernicious. 

BefideSj  how  many  women  of  this  description  pafs 
their  days,  or,  at  leaft  their  evenings,  difcontentedly. 
Their  hufbands  acknowledge  that  they  are  good  rr.a- 
nigers,  and  ch^fce  wives;  but  leave  home  to  feek  for 
more  agreeable,  may  1  be  allowed  to  ufe  a  fignificant 
French  word,  piquant  fociety  ;  and  the  patient  drudge, 
who  fulfils  her  talk,  like  a  blind  horfe  in  a  mill,  is  de 
frauded  of  her  juft  reward ;  for  the  wages  due  to  her 
are  the  carefles  of  her  huiband  ;  and  women  who  have 
fo  few  refources  in  themfelves,  do  not  very  patiently 
bear  this  privation  of  a  natural  right. 

A  fine  lady,  on  the  contrary,  has  been  taught  to  look 
down  with  contempt  on  the  vulgar  employments  of  life ; 
though  me  has  only  been  incited  to  acquire  accomplifh- 
ments  that  rife  a  degree  above  fenfe  ;  for  even  corporeal 
accompliftiments  cannot  be  acquired  with  any  degree  of 
precifion,  unlefs  the  underftanding  has  been  ftrength- 
ened  by  exercife.  Without  a  foundation  of  principles 
taile  is  fuperficial ;  and  grace  mull  arife  from  fomething 
deeper  than  imitation.  The  imagination,  however,  is 
Cheated,  and  the  feelings  rendered  faflidious,  if  not  fo- 
phifticated  ;  or,  a  counterpoife  of  judgment  is  not  ac- 
Lz 


1 14  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

quired,  when  the  heart  ftill  remains  artlefs,  though  it 
becomes  too  tender. 

Thefe  women  are  often  amiable ;  and  their  hearts  are 
really  more  fenfiblc  to  general  benevolence,  more  alive 
to  the  fentiments  that  civilize  life,  thun  the  fqunre- 
elbowed  family  drudge  ;  b:.it,  wanting  a  due  propor 
tion 'of  reflection  and  felf-governn .ent,  they  only  infpire 
love ;  and  are  the  miftreffes  of  their  hulbands,  w  hilft 
they  have  any  lu.ld  <  n  tl^ir  ;.:ffeciions  ;  an.!  the  platonic 
friends  of  his  n  ale  acquaintance.  Thefe  are  the 
defects  in  nature  ;  Lie  women  who  appear  to  be 
created  not  to  enjoy  the  fellowfhip  of  man,  but  to  fare 
him  fromfinkihg  in'.o  ahfolute  brutality,  by  rubbing  off 
the  rough  angles  of  his  character,  and  by  playful  dal 
liance  to  give  feme  dignity  to  the  appetite  that  draws 
him  to  them.  Gracious  Creator  of  the  whole  human 
race. !  hail  thou  created  fuch  a  being  as  woman,  who 
can  trace  thy  wifdcm  in  thy  works,  and  feel  that  thou 
alone  art  by  thy  nature,  exalted  above  her — for  no  bet- 
tiv  purpcfe  ? — Can  me  believe  that  Ihe  was  onl^  made 
to  fubniit  to  man  her  equal ;  a  being,  who,  like  her,  was 
il:nt  into  the  world  to  acquire  virtue  ? — Can  me  con- 
lent  to  be  occupied  merely  to  pleafe  him  ;  merely  to 
u.iorn  the  earth,  when  her  foul  is  capable  of  rifmg  to 
thee  ;— And  can  flic  reft  fnpinely  dependent  on  man  for 
'.n,  when  flie  ought  to  mount  with  him  the  arduous 

of  knowledge  ; — 

Yet,  if  love  be  the  fupreme  good,  let  women  be  only 

to  infpire  it,  and  let  every  charm  be  polifhed 

the  fenfec  ;  but,  if  they  are  moral  beings, 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  115 

let  them  have  a  chance  to  become  intelligent  ;  and  let 
love  to  man  be  only  a  part  of  that  glowing  flame  of 
univerfal  love,  which,  after  encircling  humanity,  mounts 
in  grateful  incenfe  to  God. 

To  fulfil  domellic  duties  much  refolution  isnecef&ry, 
and  a  ferious  kind  of  perfeverance  that  requires  a  more 
firm  fupport  than  emotions,  however  lively  and  true  to 
nature.  To  give  an  example  of  order,  the  foul  of  vir 
tue,  fome  aufterity  of  behaviour  mull  pfc»e  adopted, 
fcarcely  to  be  expected  from  a  being  who,  from  its  in 
fancy,  has  been  made  the  weathercock  of  its  own  fenfa- 
tions.  Whoever  rationally  means  to  be  ufeful,  muii 
have  a  plan  of  conduct  ;  and,  in  the  diicharge  of  ths 
fimpleft  duty,  we  are  often  obliged  to  act  contrary  to 
the  prefent  impulfe  of  tendernefs  or  cornpaiTioii.  Seve 
rity  is  frequently  the  moft  certain,  as  weU  as  the  moil 
fublime  proof  of  afFeclion:  and  the  want  of  this  power 
over  the  feelings,  and  of  that  lofty,  dignified  affedion, 
which  makes  a  perfon  prefer  the  future  good  of  the 
beloved  objec~l  to  a  prefent  gratification,  is  the  reafon 
why  fo  many  fond  mothers  fpoil  their  children,  and  his 
made  it  questionable,  whether  negligence  or  indulgence 
is  more  hurtful  :  but  I  am  inclined  to  think,  that  the 
latter  has  done  moft  harm. 

Mankind  feem  to  agree,  that  children  fhould  be  left 
under  the  management  of  women  during  their  child 
hood.  Now,  from  all  the  obfervation  that  i  have  been 
able  to  make,  women  of  fenfibiiity  are  the  moft  unfit 
for  this  tafk,  becaufe  they  will  infallibly,  carried  away 
by  their  feelings,  fpoil  a  child's  temper.  The  manage- 
L  3 


Il6  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

merit  of  the  temper,  the  firft  and  moil  important  branch 
of  education,  requires  the  fober  fteady  eye  of  reafon  ; 
a  plan  of  conduct  equally  diftant  from  tyranny  and  in- 
d-Igence:  yet  thefe  are  the  extremes  that  people  of  fen- 
iibhity  alternately  fall  into;  always  mooting  beyond  the 
mark.  I  have  followed  this  train  of  reafoning  much  fur 
ther,  till  I  have  concluded,  that  a  perfon  of  genius  is 
.the  moll  improper  perfon  to  be  employed  in  education, 
public  cr  private.  Minds  of  this  rare  fpecies  fee  things 
too  much  in  rnaffes,  and  feldom,  if  ever,  have  a  good 
temper.  That  habitual  cheerfulnefs,  termed  good  hu 
mour,  is,  perhaps,  as  feldorn  united  with  great  mental 
powers,  as  with  ftrcng  feelings.  And  thofe  people  who 
follow,  with  interefi  and  admiration,  the  flights  of  ge 
nius;  or,  with  cooler  approbation  fuck  in  the  inilruclion, 
which  has  been  elaborately  prepared  for  them  by  the 
profound  thinker,  ought  not  to  be  difgufted,  if  they  £nd 
the  former  choleric,  and  the  Utter  morofe ;  becaufe  live- 
linefs  of  fancy,  and  a  tenacious  comprehenfion  of  mind, 
are  fcurcely  compatible  wilh  that  pliant  urbanity  which 
leads  a  man,  at  leait,  to  bend  to  the  opinions  and  preju 
dices  of  others,  indead  of  roughly  confronting  them. 

But,  treating  of  education  or  manners,  minds  of  a 
fuperior  clafs  are  not  to  be  considered,  they  may  be  left 
to  chance;  it  is  the  multitude,  with  moderate  abilities, 
who  call  for  inilruclion,  and  catch  the  colour  of  the  at- 
mofphcre  they  breathe.  This  refpeftable  concourfe,  I 
-contend,  men  and  women,  mould  not  have  their  fenfa- 
tions  heierh-'ened  in  the  hot-bed  of  luxurious  indolence, 

o 

at  the  exjpencc  of  their  underftanding;  for,  unlefs  there. 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN.  1 17 

be  a  ballad  of  underftanding,  they  will  never  become 
either  virtuous  or  free:  an  ariltocracy,  founded  on  pro- 
.perty,  or  ilerling  talents,  will  ever  fweep  before  it,  the 
alternately  timid  and  ferocious  flaves  of  feeling. 

Numberlefs  are  the  arguments,  to  take  another  view 
of  the  fubject,  brought  forward  with  a  Ihew  of  reafon ; 
becaufe  fuppofed  to  be  deduced  from  nature,  that  men 
have  ufed  morally  and  phyiically,  to  degrade  the  fex, 
I  muft  notice  a  few. 

The  female  underftanding  has  often  been  fpoken  of 
with  contempt,  as  arriving  fooner  at  maturity  than  the 
male.  I  [hall  not  anfwer  this  argument  by  alluding  to 
the  early  proofs  of  reafon,  as  well  as  genius,  in  Cowley, 
Milton,  and  Pope*,  but  only  appeal  to  experience  to 
decide  whether  young  men,  who  are  early  introduced 
into  company  (and  examples  now  abound)  do  not  ac 
quire  the  fame  precocity.  So  notorious  is  this  facl,  that 
the  bare  mentioning  of  it  muft  bring  before  people,- 
who  at  all  mix  in  the  world,  the  idea  of  a  number  of 
fwaggering  apes  of  men,  whofe  underllandings  are  nar 
rowed  by  being  brought  into  the  fociety  of  men  when 
they  ought  to  have  been  fpinning  a  top  or  twirling  a 
hoop. 

It  has  alfo  been  afferted,  by  fome  naturalifts,  that  men 
do  not  attain  their  full  growth  and  ftrength  till  thirty; 
but  that  women  arrive  at  maturity  by  twenty.  I  appre 
hend  that  they  reafon  on  falfe  ground,  led  aftray  by  the 
male  prejudice,  which  deems  beauty'  the  perfection  of 
woman — mere  beauty  of  features  and  complexion,  the 

*    Many  other  names  might  be  added. 


Il8  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

vulgar  acceptation  of  the  world,  whiift  male  beauty 
is  allowed  to  have  fome  connection  With  the  mind. 
Strength  of  body,  and  tli ..  c-aiuaaer  of  countenance, 
which  the  French  term  a  pfVjio.-tonue,  wuiucn  do  not  ac 
quire  before  thirty,  any  more  tii  ,n  men.  The  little  art-' 
lefs  tricks  of  chiidicn,  it  is  true,  are  particularly  pleaf- 
ing  and  atu..u..e;  yet,  when  the  pretty  freihnefs  of 
youth  is  wo,  •  off,  thefe  artlels  graces  become  iludied 
airs,  and  dilguft  every  perfon  of  tafle.  In  the  counte- 
\,t  ncc  of  girls  \ve  only  look  for  vivacity  and  bafhful  mo- 
but,  the  fpringtide  of  life  over,  we  look  for  fo- 
b  fef  Teafe  in  the  face,  and  for  traces  of  paffion,  inftead 
of  the  dimples  of  animal  fpirits;  expecting  to  fee  indivi 
duality  of  character,  the  only  faftener  of  the  affections*  f 
We  then  wifn  to  conveile,  not  to  fondle;  to  give  fcope 
to  our  imaginations  as  well  as  to  the  fenfations  of  our 
hearts. 

At  twenty  the  beauty  of  both  fexes  is  equal;  but  the 
libertinifm  of  man  leads  him  to  make  the  difrinction, 
and  fuperannuated  coquettes  are  commonly  of  the  fame 
opinion;  for,  when  they  can  no  longer  infpire  love,  they 
pay  for  the  vigour  and  vivacity  of  youth.  The  French 
who  admit  more  of  mhid  into  their  notions  of  beauty, 
give  the  preference  to  women  of  thirty.  I  mean  to  fay 
that  they  allow  women  to  be  in  their  mofl  perfect  ftate 
\vhen  vivacity  gives  place  to  reafon,  and  to  that  majeit 
ferioufnefs  of  character,  which  marks  maturity; — or,  the 


h, 

» 

; 


*  TbefrengtJj  of  an  afeflion  is,  generally,  in  tie  fame  proportion,  as 
tie  cbaraffer  of  the  ffecies  in  the  oljeSl  beloved,  it  lojl  in  ibat  of  tbt 
individual* 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  Iig 

Tcfcing  point.  In  youth,  till  twenty,  the  body  {hoots 
out;  till  thirty  the  folids  are  attaining  a  degree  of  den- 
fity ;  and  the  flexible  mufcles,  growing  daily  more  rigid, 
give  character  to  the  countenance;  that  is,  they  trace 
the  operations  of  the  mind  with  the  iron  pen  of  fate, 
and  tell  us  not  only  what  powers  are  within,  but  how 
they  have  been  employed. 

It  is  proper  to  obferve,  that  animals  who  arrive  {lowly 
at  maturity,  are  the  longeft  lived,  and  of  the  nobleit 
fpecies.  Men  cannot,  however,  claim  any  natural  fu- 
periority  from  the  grandeur  of  longevity;  for  in  this 
refpecl  nature  has  not  diflinguimed  the  male. 

Polygamy  is  another  phyfical  degradation;  and  a 
plaufible  argument  for  a  cuftom,  that  blells  every  do- 
melUc  virtue,  is  drawn  from  the  well-attefted  fad,  that 
in  the  countries  where  it  is  eftablifhed,  more  females 
arc  born  than  males.  This  appears  to  be  an  indication 
of  nature,  and  to  nature,  apparently  reafonable  fpecula- 
tions  mull  yield.  A  further  conclufion  obvioufly  pre- 
fented  itfelf;  if  polygamy  be  necenliry,  woman  muft  be 
inferior  to  rran,  and  made  for  him. 

With  refpect  to  the  formation  of  the  fetus  in  the 
womb,  we  are  very  ignorant;  but  it  appears  to  me  pro 
bable,  that  an  accidental  phyfical  caufe  may  account  for 
this  phenomenon,  and  prove  it  not  to  be  a  law  of  nature, 
I  have  met  with  fome  pertinent  obfervations  on  the  fub- 
jecl  in  Forfter's  Account  of  the  Ifles  of  the  South-Sea, 
that  will  explain  my  meaning.  After  obferving,  that  of 
the  two  fexes  amongft  animals,  the  moft  vigorous  and 
hotteft  conilitution  always  prevails,  and  produces  its 


120  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

kind;  he  adds, — '  If  this  be  applied  to  the  inhabitants 
'  of  Africa,  it  is  evident,  that  the  men  there,  accuftomecr 
f  to  polygamy,  are  enervated  by  the  ufe  of  fo  many  wo-j 
'  men,  and  there  fare  iels  vigorous;  the  women,  on  the; 
'  contrary,  are  of  a  hotter  conftitution,  not  only  on! 
'  account  of  their  more  irritable  nerves,  more  ienfible^ 
'  organization,  and  more  lively  f.ncy ;  but  likewise  be-^ 

*  caufe  they  are  deprived  in  their  matrimony  of  that 

*  mare  of  pliyfical  love  which,  in  a  monogamous  condi- 
'  tion,  would  all  be  theirs;  and  thus,  for  the  above  rea- 
'  ions,  tiie  generality  of  children  ire  born  females.' 

'  In  the  greater  part  of  Europe  it  has  been  proved 

*  by  the  moft  accurate  lifls  of  mortality,  that  the  pro- ' 
1  portion  of  men  t3  women  i"  nearly  equal,  or,  if  any 
'  difference  takes  places,  the  males  born  are  more  nu- 
'  merous,  in  the  proportion  or   105  to  100.' 

The  neceffity  of  polygamy,  therefore,  does  not  ap 
pear;  yet  when  a  mm  fe daces  a  woman,  it  mould,  I 
think,  be  termed  a  left-handed  marriage,  and  the  man  • 
mould  be  legally  obliged  to  maintain  the  woman  and  "her 
children,  unlefs  adultery,  a  natural  divorcement,  abro 
gated  the  law.  And  this  law  mould  remain  in  force  as 
long  as  the  weaknefs  of  women  caufed  the  word  feduc- 
tion  to  be  ufed  as  an  excufe  for  &j*£ir  frailty  and  want  of 
principle ;  nay,  while  they  depend  on  man  for  a  fubfift- 
ence,  inilead  of  earning  it  by  the  exercife  of  their  own 
hands  or  heads.  But  thefe  women ihould  not,  in  the  full 
meaning  of  the  relationflrip,  be  termed  wives,  or  the  ; 
very  purpofe  of  marriage  would  be  fubverted,  and  all 
thofe  endearing  charities  that  flow  from  perfonal  fide* 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  J2l 

«Hty,  and  give  a  fancliity  to  the  tie,  when  neither  love 
[nor  friendmip  unites  the  hearts,  would  melt  into  felfim- 
>nefs.  The  woman  who  is  fu  infill  to  the  father  of  her 
children  demands  reipeft,  and  mould  not  be  treated  like 
[a  proilitute ;  though  i  readily  grant,  that  if  it  be  necef- 
ifary  for  a  man  and  woman  to  live  together  in  order  to 

f  O 

|  bring  up  their  offspring,  nature  never  intended  that  a 
(man  mould  have  more  Uian  one  wife. 

Still,  highly  as  I  refpedt  marriage,  as  the  foundation 
of  almoft  every  ibcial  virtue,  I  cannot  avoid  feeling  the 
moft  lively  compaifion  for  thofe  unfortunate  females  u-no 
are  broken  olr  from  fociety,  and  by  one  error  torn  from 
all  thofe  affections  and  relationmips  that  improve  tne 
heart  and  mind.  It  does  not  frequently  even  deserve 
the  name  of  error;  for  many  innocent  girls  become  the 
dupes  of  afmcere,  affectionate  heart,  and  ftill  more  are, 
as  it  may  emphatically  be  termed,  ruined  before  they 
know  the  difference  between  virtue  and  vice: — and  thus 
prepared  by  their  education  for  infamy,  they  become, 
infamous.  Afylums  and  M  igcialens  are  not  the  proper 
remedies  for  thefe  abufes.  it  is  jaftice,  not  charity,  that 
is  wanting  in  the  world ! 

A  woman  who  has  loft  her  honour,  imagines  that  me 
cannot  fall  lower,  and  as  i\>T  recovering  her  former  fta- 
tion,  if  is  impoflibie;  no  edition  c^n  warn  this  ft -.In 
aw«;X  Lofing  thus  every  ipur.  and  having  no  other 
means  of  fupport,  proiuiacion  becomes  her  only  retire, 
and  the  character  is  quickly  depraved  by  circum  .ances 
over  whkli  the  poor  wretcii  has  little  power,  unlefs  ilie 
poiTefi'es  an  uncommon  portion  of  Lnfe  and  ioftlneis  of 


122  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

fpirit.  Necefiity  never  makes  proftitution  the  bufmefs : 
of  men's  lives;  though  numberlefs  are  the  women  who 
are  thus  rendered  fyflematically  vicious.  This,  how 
ever,  arifes,  in  a  great  degree,  from  the  ftate  of  idlenefs 
in  which  women  are  educated,  who  are  always  taught 
to  look  up  to  man  for  a  maintenance,  and  to  confider 
their  peribns  as  the  proper  return  for  his  exertions  to 
fupport  them.  Meretricious  airs,  and  the  whole  fcience 
of  wantonnefs,  has  then  a  more  powerful  ftimulus  than 
either  appetite  or  vanity;  and  this  remark  gives  force  to 
the  prevailing  opinion,  that  with  chaftity  all  is  loft  that 
is  refpeclable  in  woman.  Her  character  depends  on  the 
obiervance  of  one  virtue,  though  the  only  pafiion  fofter- 
ed  in  her  heart — is  love.  Nay,  the  honour  of  a  woman 
is  not  made  even  to  depend  on  her  will. 

When  Richardfon*  makes  vlariffa  tell  Lovelace  that 
he  had  robbed  her  of  her  honour,  he  muft  have  had 
flrange  notions  of  honour  and  virtue.  For,  miferable 
beyond  all  names  of  mifery  is  the  condition  of  a  being, 
who  could  be  degraded  without  its  own  confent !  This 
excefs  of  ftriclnefs  I  have  heard  vindicated  as  a  falutary 
error.  I  mail  anfwer  in  the  words  of  Leibnitz — *  Errors 
are  often  ufeful;  but  it  is  commonly  to  remedy  other 
errors, 

Moft  of  the  evils  of  life  arife  from  a  defire  of  prefent 
enjoyment  that  outruns  itfeif.  The  obedience  required 
of  women  in  the  marriage  ftate  comes  under  this  defcrip- 
tion;  the  mind,  naturally  weakened  by  depending  on 

*  Dr  Young  fitpports  the  fame  opinion,  in  Lit  plays ,  ^vhsn  he  talks  of 
tJ}e  misfortune,  that  fh tinned  the  light  of  tie  day,  _ 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  123 

authority,  never  exerts  itj  own  powers,  and  the  obedient 
wife  is  thus  rendered  a  weak  indolent  mother.  Or,  fup- 
pofmg  that  this  is  not  always  the  confequence,  a  future 
ft.ite  of  exiftence  is  fcarceiy  taken  into  the  reckoning 
when  only  negative  virtues  are  cultivated.  For,  in  treat 
ing  of  morals,  particularly  when  women,  are  alluded  to, 
writers  have  too  often  confidered  virtue  in  a  very  limit 
ed  fenie,  and  made  the  foundation  of  it  folely  worldly 
utility;  nay,  a  ftill  more  fragile  bafe  hr.s  been  given  to 
this  flupendous  fabric,  and  the  wayward  fluctuating  feel 
ings  of  men  have  been  made  the  ftandard  of  virtue. 
Yes,  virtue  as  well -as  religion,  has  been  fubjected  to  the 
decifions  of  tsfle. 

It  would  almoft  provoke  a  fmile  of  contempt,  if  the 
vain  abfurdities  of  man  did  not  iirike  us  on  ail  fides,  to 
obferve,  how  eager  men  are  to  degrade  the  ie::  from 
whom  they  pretend  to  receive  the  chief  pleafuie  of  life; 
and  I   have  frequently,  with   full  conviction,  retorted 
Pope's  farcafm  on  them;  or,  to  fpeak  explicitly,  it  has 
appeared  to  me  applicable  to  the  whole  human  race.     A 
love  of  pleafure  or  f.vay  fccms  to  divide  mankind,  and 
the  hulband  .who  lords.it  in  his  little  ha  ram,  thinks  only 
of  his  pleafiire  or  his  convenience.    To  iuch  lengths,  in 
deed,  does  an  intemperate  love  of  pleaiure  carry  fonie 
prudent  men,  or  worn-ovit  libertines,  who  marry  to  have 
e  hed-fdiow,  that  they  feduce  their  own  wives. — 
es  modefty,  and  chafte  love  takes  its  flight. 
e,  confidered  as  an  animal  appetite,  cannot  long 
feed  on  itfelf  without  expiring.     And  this  extinction, 
in  it.j  own  flame,  may  be  termed   Uie  violent  death  of 
M 


J24  VINDICATION    OF    THi 

love.  But  the  wife  who  has  thus  been  rendered  licen 
tious,  will  probably  endeavour  to  fill  the  void  left  by  the 
lofs  of  Jier  hufband's  attentions;  for  (he  cannot  content 
edly  become  merely  an  upper  fervant  after  having  been 
treated  like  a  goddefs.  She  is  flill  handfome,  and,  in- 
llead  of  transferring  her  fondnefs  to  her  children,  fne 
only  dreams  of  enjoying  the  funfhine  of  life.  Befides, 
tjiere  are  many  hufbands  fo  devoid  of  fenfe  and  parental 
affection,  that  during  the  firft  effervefcence  of  volup 
tuous  fondnefs,  they  refufe  to  let  their  wives  fuckle  their 
children.  They  are  only  to  drefs  and  live  to  pleafe  them : 
and  love — even  innocent  love,  foon  finks  into  lafcivi- 
oufnefs  when  the  exercife  of  a  duty  is  facrificed  to  its 
indulgence. 

Perfonal  attachment  is  a  very  happy  foundation  for 
friendfnip;  yet;  when  even  two  virtuous  young  people 
marry,  it  would,  perhaps,  be  happy  if  fome  circumftance 
checked  their  pallion;  if  the  recollection  of  fome  prior 
attachment,  or  difappointed  affection,  made  it  on  one 
fide,  at  leaft,  rather  a  match  founded  on  efteem.  In 
that  call  they  would  look  beyond  the  prefent  moment, 
and  try  to  render  the  whole  of  life  refpeclable,  by 
forming  a  plan  to  regulate  a  friendfhip  which  only 
death  ought  to  diflblve. 

Friendmip  is  a  ferious  affection;  the  moft  fublime  of 
nil  affections,  becaufe  it  is  founded  on  principle,  and 
cemented  by  time.  The  very  reverfe  may  be  faid  cf 
Jove.  In  a  great  degree,  love  and  friendfhip  cannot 
fubfiit  in  the  fame  bofom ;  even  when  infpired  by  dif 
ferent  objects  they  weaken  or  dcilroy  each  other,  and 


^vjnic,    wr    WOMAN.  J  25 

for  the  fame  obj:£l  can  only  be  felt  in  fuccefllon,  The 
vain  fears  and  fond  jealoaiies,  thui  winds  which  fan  the 
flame  of  love,  when  judicioufly  or  arUully  tendered, 
*re  both  incompatible  with  .  .e  tender  confidence  ancl 
fin^e  e  reipe>_  o  ch-nJLuip. 

I  ^,  iuca  as  the  glowing  pen  of  genius  has  traced, 
exi/^  nut  on  earth,  or  only  refidcs  in  thofe  exalted, 
ferviu.  imagina.ions  that  have  L.  etched  iuch  dangerous 
pidures.  D. ngerpus,  becaufe  they  not  only  afford  a 
plaufible  excufe  to  the  voluptuary,  v\  ho  difguifes  iheer 
fenfuality  under  a  fentimental  veil ;  but  as  they  fpread 
ane&ation,  and  take  fiom  the  dignity  of  virtue.  Vir 
tue,  as  the  very  word  imports,  ihowld  have  an  appear 
ance  of  {erioulnefs,  if  not  aufterity ;  and  to  endeavour 
to  trick  her  out  in  the  garb  of  pleafure,  becauie  the 
epithet  has  been  ufed  as  another  name  for  beauty,  is  to 
exalt  her  on  a  quickiand ;  a  moil  infidious  attempt  to 
haften  her  fall  by  apparent  reipe&.  Virtue  and  plea- 
fure  are  not,  in  fact,  fo  nearly  allied  in  this  life  as 
•fome  eloquent  writers  have  laboured  to  prov^(*!Plea- 
fure  prepares  the  fading  wreath,  and  mixes  the  intoxi 
cating  cup ;  but  the  fruit  which  virtue  gives,  is  the  re- 
compence  of  toil:  and,  gradually  feen  as  it  ripens, 
only  affords  calm  fatisfa&ion  ;  nay,  appearing  to  be 
the  refult  of  the  natural  tendency  of  things,  it  is 
fcarcely  obferved.  Bread,  the  common  food  of  life, 
feldom  thought  ©f  as  a  blefling,  fupports  the  conftitu- 
tion,  and  preferves  health ;  ftiU  feafls  delight  the  heart 
of  man,  though  difeafe  and  even  death  lurk  in  the  cup 
or  dainty  that  elevates  the  fpirits  or  tickles  the  palate. 
M  z 


126  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

The  lively  heated  imagination,  in  the  fame  ftyle,  draws 
the  pi&ure  of  love,  as  it   draws    every   other   piclure, 
with   thofe   glowing   colours,    which   the  daring  hand 
will  fteal  from  the  rainbow  that  is  directed  by  a  mind, 
condemned,  in  a   world  like  this,  to  prove  its   noble 
origin,  by  panting  after  unattainable  perfection ;  ever 
puriuing  what  it  acknowledges  to  be  a- fleeting  dream. 
An  imagination  of  this  vigorous  caft  can  give  exiilencej 
to   infubftantial   forms,    and   (lability   to   the  lhadowy  ;J 
reveries  which  tiie  mind  naturally  falls  into  when  re- 
ties  are   found   vapid.     It  can  then  depict  love  withjjj 
celeftial  charms,  and  dote  on  the  grand  ideal  objecV- «•• 
it  can  imagine  a  degree  of  mutual  affection  that  fhalll 
refine  the  foul,  and  not  expire  when  it  has  ferved  as  a  j 
'  fcale  to  heavenly;'  and,  like  devotion,  make  it  ab-| 
forb  every  meaner  affection  and  defire.    In  each  other's  .'. 
rrnns,  as  in  a  temple,  with  its  fummit  loft  in  the  clouds,  * 
the  world  is  to   be  fhut  out,  and   every   thought   andj 
\vimr  that  do  not  nurture  pure  affection  and  permanent  £ 
virtues-Permanent  virtue  !  alas !  Roufleau,  refpeclable 
vifionary !  thy  paradife  would  foon  be  violated  by  the 
entrance  of  fome  unexpected  gueft.     Like  Milton's,  it 
would  only  contain  angels,  or  men  funk  below  the  dig 
nity  of  rational  creatures,     Happinefs  is   not  material,! 
it  cannot  be  feen  or  felt !     Yet  the  eager  purfuit  of  the'i 
good   which  every  one  fhapes  to  his  own  fancy,  pro- 1 
claims    man  the    lord  of  this  lower  world,  and  to  be 
an  intelligential  creature,  who  is  not  to  receive,  bi» 
acquire  happinefs.     They,  therefore,  who  complain  of 
the  delufioas  of  paflion,  do  not  recoiled  that  they  ai-e 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN.  127 

exclaiming  againil  a  ilrong  proof  of  the  immortality 
of  the  foul. 

But,  leaving  fuperior  minds  to  correct  themfelves, 
and  pay  dearly  for  their  experience,  it  is  neceffary  to 
obferve,  that  it  is  not  againfl  ftrong,  perfevering  paf- 
iions,  but  romantic,  wavering  feelings,  that  I  wifli  to 
guard  the  female  heart  by  exercifmg  the  underftanding ; 
for  thefe  paradifiacal  reveries  are  oftener  the  effect  of- 
idlencfs  than  of  a  lively  fancy. 

Women  have  feldom  fufficient  ferious  employment  to 
filence  their  feelings ;  a  round  of  little  cares,  or  vain 
purfuits,  frittering  away  all  ftrength  of  mind  and  or 
gans,  they  become  naturally  only  objects  of  fenfe. — In 
fliort,  the  whole  tenor  of  female  education  (the  educa 
tion  of  fociety)  tends  to  render  the  beft  difpofed  ror 
mantic  and  inconftant;  and  the  remainder  vain  and 
mean.  In  the  prefent  ftate  of  fociety,  this  evil  can 
fcarcely  be  remedied,  I  am  afraid,  in  the  flighteft  de 
gree ;  mould  a  more  laudable  ambition  ever  gain 
ground,  they  may  be  brought  nearer  to  nature  and 
reafon ;  and  become  more  virtuous  and  ufeful  as  they 
grow  more  refpectable.. 

But  I  will  venture  to  afTert,  that  their  reafon  will- 
never  acquire  fufficient  ftrength  to  enable  it  to  regulate 
their  conduct,  whilft  the  making  an  appearance  in  the 
world  is  the  firil  wifh  of  the  majority  of  mankind.  To 
this  weak  wilh  the  natural  affections  and  the  molt  ufe 
ful  virtues  are  facrificed.  Girls  marry  merely  to  better 
tbemfelvest  to  borrow  a  fignificant  vulgar  phrafe,  and 
have  fuch  perfect  power  over  their  hearts  as  not  to 
M  3 


128  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

permit  themfelves  to  fall  in  love  till  a  man  with  a 
fuperior  fortune  offers.  On  this  fubject  I  mean  to  en 
large  in  a  future  chapter ;  it  is  only  neceffary  to  drop 
a  hint  at  prcfent,  becaufe  women  are  fo  often  degraded 
by  faffering  the  felnlh  prudence  of  age  to  chill  the' 
ardour  of  youth. 

From  the  fame  fource  flows  an  opinion  that  young 
girls  ought  to  dedicate  great  part  of  their  time  to  needle 
work ;  yet,  this  employment  contracts  their  faculties 
more  than  any  other  that  could  have  been  chofen  for 
them,  by  confining  their  thoughts  to  their  perfons. 
Men  order  their  clothes  to  be  made,  and  have  done 
with  the  fubjeft ;  women  make  their  own  clothes,  ne- 
ceiTary  or  ornamental,  and  are  continually  talking  about 
them ;  and  their  thoughts  follow  their  handj.  It  is  not 
indeed  the  making  of  neceiTaries  that  weakens  the 
mind ;  but  the  frippery  of  drefs.  For  when  a  woman 
in  the  lower  rank  of  life  makes  her  hufband's  and  chil 
dren's  clothes,  fhe  does  her  duty,  this  is  part  of  her 
buiinefs ;  but  when  women  work  only  to  drefs  better 
than  they  could  other  wife  afford,  it  is  worfe  than  fheer 
lofs  of  time.  To  render  the  poor  virtuous,  they  muft 
be  employed,  and  women  in  the  middle  rank  of  life, 
did  they  not  ape  the  famions  of  the  nobility,  without 
catching  their  eafe,  might  employ  them,  whilfl  they 
themfelves  mamged  their  families,  inftrufted  their  chil 
dren,  and  exercifed  their  own  minds.  Gardening,  ex 
perimental  philofophy,  and  literature,  would  afford 
them  fubj efts  to  think  of,  and  matter  for  converfatiom 
that  in  forne  degree  would  exercife  their  underftand- 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN;  129 

ings.  The  converfation  of  French  women,  who  are 
not  fo  rigidly  nailed  to  their  chairs,  to  twift  lappets, 
and  knot  ribands,  is  frequently  fuperficial ;  but,  I  con 
tend,  th.it  it  is  not  half  To  infipid  as  that  of  thofe 
Englifh  women,  whofe  time  is  fpent  in  making  caps, 
bonnets,  and  the  whole  mifchief  of  trimmings,  not  to 
mention  mopping,  bargain-hunting,  &c.  &c.  and  it  is 
the  decent,  prudent  women,  who  are  mofl  degraded 
by  thefe  practices ;  for  their  motive  is  fimply  vanity. 
The  wanton,  who  exercifes  her  taile  to  render  her  per- 
fon  alluring,  has  fomething  more  in  view. 

Thefe  obfervations  all  branch  out  of  a  general  one, 
which  I  have  before  made,  and  which  cannot  be  too 
often  infilled  upon,  for,  fpeaking  of  men,  women,  or 
profeffions,  it  will  be  found,  that  the  employment  of  the 
thoughts  fhapes  the  character  both  generally  and  indivi 
dually.  The  thoughts  of  women  ever  hover  around  their 
perfons,  and  is  it  farprifing  that  their  perfons  are  rec 
koned  moft  valuable  ?  Yet  fome  degree  of  liberty  of 
mind  is  neceffary  even  to  form  the  perfon  ;  and  this 
may  be  one  reafon  why  fome  gentle  wives  have  fo  few 
attractions  befide  that  of  fex.  Add  to  this,  fedentary 
employments  render  the  majority  of  women  fickly— — 
and  filfe  notions  of  female  excellence  make  them  proud 
of  this  delicacy,  though  it  be  another  fetter,  that  by 
>  calling  the  attention  continually  to  the  body,  cramps 
the  activity  of  the  mind. 

Women  of  quality  feldom  do  any  of  the  manual  part 
of  their  drefs,  confequently  only  their  tafte  is  exercifed, 
and  they  acquire,  by  thinking  lefs  of  the  finery,  when 


VINDICATION   OF   THE 

the  bufmefs  of  their  toilet  is  over,  that  eafe,  which  fel-- 
dom  appears  in  the  deportment  of  women,  who  drefs 
merely  for  the  fake  of  dreffing.  In  fa&,  the  obferva- 
tion  with  refpedl  to  the  middle  rank,  the  one  in  which 
talents  thrive  bell,  extends  not  to  women;  for  thofe  of 
the  fuperior  clafs,  by  catching,  at  leafl,  a  fmattering  of 
literature,  and  converfmg  more  with  men,  on  general 
topics,  acquire  more  knowledge  than  the  women  who 
ape  their  fafhions  and  faults  without  fharing  their  ad 
vantages.  With  refpeft  to  virtue,  to  ufe  the  word  in", 
a  comprehenfive  fenfe,  I  have  feen  moil  in  low  life.* 
Many  poor  women  maintain  their  children  by  the  fweak 
of  their  brow,  and  keep  together  families  that  the  vices 
of  the  fathers  would  have  fcattered  abroad ;  but  gentle 
women  are  too  indolent  to  be  actively  virtuous,  and  are. 
foftened  rather  than  refined  by  civilization.  Indeed, 
the  good  fenfe  which  I  have  met  with  among  the  poor 
women  who  have  had  few  advantages  of  education,  and 
yet  have  afted  heroically,  flrongly  confirmed  me  in  the 
opinion,  that  trifling  employments  have  rendered  woman- 
a  trifler.  Men,  taking  her  *  body,  the  mind  is  left  to 
ruil ;  fo  that  while  phyfical  love  enervates  man,  as  being; 
his  favourite  recreation,  he  will  endeavour  to  enilave-' 
woman  :  and,  who  can  tell  how  many  generations  may 
be  necefTary  to  give  vigour  to  the  virtue  and  talents  ofij 
the  freed  poilerity  of  abjeclflaves  ?f 

*   *  /  takt  J:er  lidyj  fayt  Ranger. 

•f-  *  Svppofitig  tl  At  women  are  voluntary  Jlaves— -jlavtry  of  any  i:nif^ 
'  is-  unjawuraiic  ii  human  bafpir.eft  and  imprwcaent.' 

Knox'a  Efiays.    ; 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  131 

In  tracing  the  caufes  that,  in  my  opinion,  have  de 
graded  woman,  I  have  confined  my  obfervations  to 
]  fuch  as  univerfally  adl  upon  the  morals  and  manners  of 
I  the  whole  fex,  and  to  me  it  appears  clear,  that  they  all 
fpring  from  want  of  understanding.  Whether  this 
arife  from  a  phyfical  or  accidental  weaknefs  of  facul 
ties,  time  alone  can  determine ;  for  I  (hall  not  lay  any 
great  flrefs  upon  the  example  of  a  few  women,  f  who, 
from  having  received  a  mafculine  education,  have  ac 
quired  courage  and  refolution ;  I  only  contend,  that 
the  men  who  have  been  placed  in  fimilar  fit  uations 
have  acquired  a  fimilar  character — I  fpeak  of  bodies 
of  men,  and  that  men  of  genius  and  talents  have 
ftarted  out  of  a  clafs,  in  which  women  have  never  yet 
been  placed. 

*  Safpho,  Jjjtoifa,  Mrs.  Macau  fey  t  the  Emprefs  of  £ujpa,  Madame 
if* Eon,  &c.  Tbefc,  and  many  more,  may  be  reckoned  exceptions  ;  and 
are  not  all  heroes,  at  ivell  as  heroines,  txctptions  to  general  rules  ?  / 
iviji  to  fee  ivomsn  neither  heroines  nor  brutes  ;  but  reafonable 
creatures. 


132  VINDICATION    OF    THE 


CHAP.      V. 

jtnimad'verfions  on  fame  of  the  writers  *wlo 
nvcme  n  o&Jetfs  of  pity,  bordering 


X  HE  opinions  fpecioufiy  fupported,  in  fame  modern  j 
publications  on  the  female  character,    anc1   education, 
which  have  given  the  tone  to  moll  of  the  obierv.uions] 
made,  in  a  more  curibry  nunner,    on   the  fex,  remain- 
now  to  be  examined. 

SECT.  I. 

I  SHALL  begin  v  ;di  Roufleau,  and  give  a  fketcli  of 
the  chaiv;vk'.r  of  worn  n  m  hi?  own  words,  interfperfing 
comments  end  refledions.  My  comments,  it  is  true, 
will  all  iprirg  from  a  few  fimple  principles,  and  might 
have  been  deduced  from  what  J  have  already  faid  ;  but 
the  artificial  ftru£lure  has  been  raifed  with  fo  much 
ingenuity,  that  it  feems  neceiTary  to  attack  it  in  a 
more  circumilantr.il  manner,  and  make  the  application 
myfelf. 

Sophia,  fays  Roufieau,  fnould  be  as  perfed  a  woman 
as  Emilius  is  a  man,  and  to  render  her  fo,  it  is  necef- 
fary  to  examine  the  character  which  nature  has  given 
to  the  fex. 

He  then  proceeds  to  prove,  that  woman  ought  to  be 
weak  and  paiTive,  becaufe  {he  has  lefs  bodily  flrength  ' 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  ! -^ 

than  man  ;  and  from  hence  infers,  that  me  was  formed 
to  pleafe  and   to  be  fubjeft  to  him;  and  that  it  is  her 
duty  to  render  herfelf  agreeable  to  her  mailer— this  being 
the  grand  end  of  herexiftence.*  Still,  however,  to  give 
a  little  mock  dignity  to  luft,  he  infills  that  man  mould 
)t  exert  his  flrength,   but  depend  on  the  will  of  the 
woman,  when  he  feeks  for  pleafure  with  her. 
'  Hence  we  deduce  a  third  confequcnce  from  the  dif 
ferent  conflitutions  of  the  fexes ;  which  is,  that   the 
ilrongefl  mould  be  mailer  in  appearance,  and  be  de- 
'  pendent   in  fad  on  the  weakeft;  and  that  not  from 
f  any  frivolous  practice  of  gallantry,  or  vanity  of  pro- 

•  teftorlhip,   but  from   an    invariable   law  of  nature, 
'  which,  furnifhing  womanjwith  a  greater  facility  to  ex- 
«  cite  defiies,  than  me  has  given  man  to  fatisfy  them, 

makes  the  latter  dependent  on  the  good  pleafure  of  the 
former,  and  compels  him  to  endeavour  to  pleafe  in  his 
turn,  in  order  to  obtain  her  confent  that  he  Jhould  be 

'jlrongejt.^     On   thefe  occafions,    the  moft   delightful 

circumftance  a   man  finds  in  his  viclory  is,  to  doubt 

whether  it  was  the  woman's  weaknefs  that  yielded  to 

»   fuperior  ftrength,    or   whether  her   inclinations 

'  <poke  in  his  favour  :  the  females  are  alfo  generally 
utful  enough  to  leave  this  matter  in  doubt.  The  un- 

(  demanding  of  women  anfwers  in  this  refpecl:  per- 
aiy  to  their  conftitution:  fo  far  from  being  afhamed 

*  of  their  weaknefs,  they  glory  in  it;  their  tender  muf- 

Ibave  already  Infer  ted  tbe  fa/age ,  pag  e  80. 
t   Wbat  r.onfenfe  ' 


J34  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

<  cles  make  no  refinance ;  they  affeft  to  be  incapable  of 

<  lifting  the  fmalleft  burdens,    and  would  blulh  to  be 

<  thought  robuft  and  ftrong.     To  what   purpofe  is  all 

<  this  ?  Not  merely  for  the  fake  of  appearing  delicate, 
•  but  through  an  artful  precaution :  it  is  thus  they  pro- 

<  vide  an  excufe  before  hand,  and  a  right  to  be  feebl 

<  when  they  think  it  expedient.'* 

I  have  quoted  this  paffage,  left  my  readers  mould  f 
pea  that  I  warped  the  author's  reafoning  tofupportmy 
own  arguments,     I  have  already  afferted,  that  in  edu 
cating   women,  thefe  fundamental  principles  lead  to  a 
fyftem  of  cunning  and  lafcivioufnefs. 

Suppofmg  woman  to  have  been  formed  only  to  pleafe, 
and  be  fubjedl  to  man,  the  conclufion  is  jufl,  me  oug! 
to  facrifice  every  other  confideration  to  render  herfelf 
agreeable  to  him  :  andlet  this  brutal  defire  of  felf-prefer- 
vation  be  the  grand  fpring  of  all  her  adions,  when  i 
is  proved  to  be  the  iron  bed  of  fate,  to  fit  which,  her 
character  mould  be  ftretched  or  comraded,  regardlefs  of 
all   moral   or   phyfical  diflindions.     But  if,  as  I  think 
may  be'  demonftrated,  the  purpofes  of  even   this  life, 
viewing   the  whole,  are  fubverted  by  pradical    rules 
built  upon  this  ignoble  bafe,  I  may  be  allowed  to  doubt 
whether  woman  was  created  for  man  :  and,  though  the 
c.-y  of  irreligion,  or  even  atheifm  be  raifed  againft  me, 
I  will  fimply  declare,  that  were  an  angel  from  heaven 
to  tell  me  that  Mofes's  beautiful,   poetical  cofmogony, 
and  the  accc  i  t  of  the  fall  of  man,  were  literally  true, 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  135 

I  could  not  believe  what  my  reafon  told  me  was  dero 
gatory  to  the  character  of  the  Supreme  Being :  and, 
having  no  fear  of  the  devil  before  mine  eyes,  I  venture 
to  call  this  a  fuggeltioa  of  reafon,  inflead  of  reillng  rry 
weaknefo  on  the  broad  moulders  of  the  firft  feducer  tf 
my  frail  fex. 

'  It  being  once  demonftrated/  continues  7?  p 
e  that  man  and  woman  are -not,  nor  ought  to 
'  tuted  alike  in  temperament  and  charatier,  it  follows 
'  of  coarfe,  that  they  iluuld  not  be  educated  in  thj 
e  fame  manner.  In  piurfuing  the  directions  of  nature, 
'  they  ought  indeed  to  act  in  concert,  bi;t  they  fhould 
*  not  be  engaged  in  the  fame  employments ;  the  end 
'  of  their  parfaits  mould  be  tn:;'i"ime,  but  the  means 
'  they  mould  take  to  accomplifh  them,  and,  ofconfe- 
'  qaence,  their  taftes  and  inclinations  mould  be  dif- 
-  '  ferent.'* 


'  Whether  I  confider  the  peculiar  delKnation  of  the 
*  fex,  obferve  their  inclinations,  or  mark  their  duties, 
'  all  things  equally  concur  to  point  out  the  peculiar 
f  method  of  education  bell  adapted  to  them.  Woman 
'  and  man  were  made  for  each  other  ;  but  their  mutual 
'  dependence  is  not  the  fame.  The  men  depend  on 
'  the  women  only  on  account  of  their  deilies;  t;  . 
'  men  on  the  men  botii  on  account  of  their  dcfires  and 


Rowjj'eaus  Ei:<iliust    Vol.  HI,  p.  176. 
N 


136  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

f  their  neceffities :  we  could  fuhful  better  without  them 
'  than  they  without  us.*' 


'  For  this  reafon,  the  education  of  the  women  mould 
•'  be  always  relative  to  the  men.  To  pleafe,  to  be  ufeful 
'  to  MS,  to  make  us  love  and  eileem  them,  to  educate 
'  us  when  young,  and  take  care  of  us  when  grown  up, 
'  to  advife,  to  confole  us,  to  render  our  lives  eafy 

*  and  agreeable :  thefe  are  the  duties   of  women  at  all 
f  times,  and  what  they  mould  be   taught  in   their  in- 

*  fancy.     So  long   as  we  fail  to  recur  to  this  principle, 
'  \ve  run  wide  of  the  mark,  and  all  the  precepts  which 
'  are  given  them  contribute  neither  to  their  happinefs 
«  nor  our  own.'f 


-  e  Girls  are  from  their  earlieft  infancy  fond  of  drefs. 
'  Not  content  with  being  pretty,  they  are  defirous  of 
f  being  thought  fo  ;  we  fee,  by  all  their  little  airs, 
'  that  this  thought  engages  their  attention  ;  and  they 
'  are  hardly  capable  of  underftanding  what  is  faid  to 

*  them,   before   they  are  to  be  governed  by  -talking  to 
'  them  of  what   people   will  think  of  their  behaviour. 

*  The  fame  motive,   however,  indifcreetly  made  ufe  of 
'  with  boys,  has  not  the  fame  effeft  :  provided  they  are 
'  let  to  purfue  their  amufements  at  pleafure,   they  care 

*   Rou/catt's  Emll'ws,  Pel.  III.  f.  1 79.  f    P.  l8l. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  1 37 

*  very   little  what  people  think  of   them.     Time  and 
'*  pains  are  necefiary  to  fubjedl  boys  to  this  motive. 

'  Whencefoever  girls  derive  this    firfl   leflbn  it  is  a 

*  very  good  one.     As  the   body  is  born,   in  a  manner 
'  before  the  foul,  our  firft  concern  mould  be  to  cultivate 
'  the  former ;  this  order  is   common  to  both  fexes,  but 
'  the  object  of  that  cultivation  is  different.     In  the  one^ 
<  fex  it  is  the  developement  of  corporeal  powers ;  in  the 
'  other,   that  of  perfonal   charms :   not  that  either  the 

*  quality   of  ftrength  or  beauty  ought   to    be   confined 
'  excluiively   to  one  fex  ;  but    only  that  the   order  of 

*  the  cultivation  of  both    is    in  that  refpecl  reverfed. 
'  Women  certainly  require  as  much  ftrength  as  to  enable 
'  them  to  move  and  aft  gracefully,  and  men  as  much 

*  addrefs  as  to  qualify  them  to  aft  with  eafe.' 


'  Children  of  both  fexes  have  a  great  many  amufe- 
'  ments  in  common ;  and  fo  they  ought ;  have  they  not 
'  alfo  many  fuch  when  they  are  grown  up  ?  Each  fex 
'  has  alfo  its  peculiar  tafle  to  diftinguim  in  this  parti- 
'  cular.  Boys  lovefports  of  noife  and  activity  ;  to  beat 
*  the  drum,  to  whip  the  top,  and  to  drag  about  their 
f  little  carts :  girls,  on  the  other  hand,  are  fonder  of 
'  things  of  mow  and  ornament  ;  fuch  as  mirrors, 
'  trinkets,  and  dolls ;  the  doll  is  the  peculiar  amufement 
'  of  the  females  ;  from  whence  we  fee  their  tafte 
'  plainly  adapted  to  their  deilination.*  The  phyiical 
'  part  of  the  art  of  pleafing  lies  in  drefs ;  and  this 
N  2 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

'  is  all  which  children  are   capacitated  to  cultivate  of 
'  that  art.* 


'  Here  then   we  fee    a   primary   propenfity    firmly 

*  eftablimed,  which  you  need  only  to  purfue  and  regu- 

*  late.     The  little  creature  will  doubtlefs  be  very   de- 
'  firous  to  know  how  lo  d.efs  up  her  doll,  to  make  its 
'  Jleevc -knots,  its  flounces,    its   head-drefs,   &c.  fhe  is 
1  obligeJ  to  hive  fo  much  recourfe  to  the  people  about 

.or  their  af.ifiarce  in  thefe  articles,  that  it  would 
1  b  -  :r.rch  more  agreeable  to  her  to  owe  them  all  to  her 
.:>'.  Hence  we  have  a  good  reafon  for 
Ions  \vhich  are  ufually  taught  thefe  young 
'  /ei,;a'cs  :  in  v,  hiJi  we  do  not  appear  to  be  fetting 
'  them  a  t.vjc,  but  obliging  them,  by  inftructing  them 
«  In  vJi.it  is  Ln.r.sJi.itely  ufeful  to  themfelves.  And, 
'  in  fact,  rJmoft  all  of  them  learn  with  reluctance  to 
'  read  and  write  ;  but  very  readily  apply  themfelves  to 

*  the  ufe  of  their  needles.     They   imagine  themfelves 
f  already    grown  up,    and   think    with    pleafure,    that 
'  fjch  qualifications  will  enable  them  to  decorate  them- 
'  felves.' 

This  is  certainly  only  an  education  of  the  body  ;  but 
Rouffeau  is  not  the  only  man  who  has  indirectly  faid 
that  merely  the  perfon  of  a  young  woman,  without  any 
mind,  unlefs  animal  fpirits  came  under  that  defcription, 
is  very  pleafins;.  To  render  it  weak,  and  what  fome 
may  call  beautiful,  the  underflanding  is  neglected,  and 
girls  forced  to  fit  ftill,  play  with  dolls,  and  liften  to 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN. 

fbolifh  converfations; — the  effect  of  habit  is  infilled  upon 
as  an  undoubted  indication  of  nature.     I  know  it  was . 
RouiTeau's  opinion  that  the  fall  years  of  youth  fhould  be 
employed  to  form  the  body,  though  in  educating  Emi- 
lius  he  deviates  from  this  plan ;   yet  the  difference  be 
tween  ft  re  ng  then  ing   the   body,  on   which  ftrength  of 
jnind  in  a  great  meafure  depends,  and  only  giving  it  an. 
eafy  motion,  is  very  wide. 

Roufleau's  obfervations,  it  is  proper  to  remark,  were 
made  in  a  country  where  the  art  of  pleaiing  was  refined 
only  to  extract  the  grofsnefs  of  vice.  He  did  not  go 
back  to  nature,  or  his  ruling  appetite  difturbed  the  ope 
rations  of  reafon,  elfe  he  would  not  have  drawn  thefe 
crude  inferences. 

In  France,  boys  and  girls,  particularly  the  latter,  are 
only  educated   to  pleafe,  to  manage  their  perfons,  and. 
regulate  their  exterior  behaviour  ;   and  their  minds  are 
corrupted  at  a  very  early  age,  by  the  worldly  and  pious, 
cautions  they  receive,  to  guard  them  againil  immodefly 
I  fpe.,k  of  pail  times.     The  very  confeffions  which  mere 
Children  are  obliged  to  make,  and  the  qu.ellions  afked. 
by  the  holy  mea,  I'.affert  thefe  fads  on  good  authority, 
were   fuiiicient  to  imprefs  a  fexual  character  ;  and  the 
education  of  fociety  was  a  fciiool  of  coquetry  and  art. 
At  the  age  of  ten  or  eleven,  nay,  often  much  fooner,  girls 
began  to  coquet,  and  talked,  unreproved,  of  eftabliihing 
themfclves  in  the  world  by  marriage. 

In  fhort,  they  were  made  women,  almoil  from  their 
very  birth,  and  compliments  were  liilened  to  inftead  of 
inltrudion,  Thefe,  weakening  the  mind,  Nature  wa&. 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

fuppofed  to  have  afted  like  a  ftep-mother,  when  me 
formed  this  after-thought  of  creation. 

Not  allowing  them  underftanding,  however,  it  was 
but  coniiftent  to  fubjeft  them  to  authority,  independent 
of  reafon ;  and  to  prepare  them  for  this  fubjeclion,  he 
gives  the  following  advice  : 

'  Girls  ought  to  be  aftive  and  diligent ;  nor  is  that 
'  all;  they  mould  alfo  be  early  fubjecled  to  reftraint. 
'  Tills  misfortune,  if  it  really  be  one,  is  infeparable 

*  from  their  fex  ;  nor  do  they  ever  throw  it  off  but  to 
'  fuifer  more    cruel   evils.     They   muft    be  fubjecl,  all 
'  their  lives,  to   the  moil  conftant  and  fevere  reftraint, 
'  which  is  that  of  decorum :  it  is,  therefore,   necefiary 
'  to  accuftom  them   early  to  fuch  confinement,  that  it 
<  may   not  afterwards  coft  them   too  dear ;  and  to  the 
'  fuppreflion  of  their  caprices,  that  they  may  the  more 
«  reacii'y  fubmit  to  the  will  of  others.     If,  indeed,  they 

*  are   fond  of  being  always  at  work,  they    mould  be 

*  fometimes    compelled  to    lay   it   afide.       DiiTipation, 

*  levity  and  inconftancy,  are  faults  that  readily  fpring 

*  up  fom  their  firft  propenfities,  when  corrupted  or  per- 

*  verted  by   too  much    indulgence.     To   prevent  this 

*  ali-.ife,  we  ^nouid  learn  them,  above  all  things,  to  lay 

*  a  due  reftraint  on  themfelves.     The  life  of  a  modeft 
'  woman   is   reduced,  by   our  abfurd  inftitutions,  to  a 

*  perpetual    confli£t  with  herfelf  :    not    but    it  is   juft 
'  that  this    fex   fhould  partake  of  the  fufFerings  which 
e  ra-ife   from  thofe  evils  it  hath  caufed  us.' 

And  why  is  ihe  life  of  a  modeft  woman  a  perpetual 
conuicl  ?  I  iliould  anfwer,  that  this  very  fyftem  of  edu- 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN.  14! 

cation  makes  it  fo.  Modeily,  temperance,  and  felf- 
denial,  are  the  fober  offspring  of  reafon  ;  but  when  fen- 
fibilityis  nurtured  at  the  expenfe  of  the  underftanding, 
fuch  weak  beings  muft  be  retrained  by  arbitrary 
means,  and  be  fubjefted  to  continual  conflifts  ;  but 
give  their  activity  of  mind  a  wider  range,  and  nobler 
paffions  and  motives  will  govern  their  appetites  and 
fentiments. 

f  The  common  attachment  and  regard  of  a  mother, 

*  nay,  mere  habit,  will  make  her  beloved  by  her  chil- 
«  dren,  if  me  does  nothing  to  incur  their   hate.     Even 
'  the  reftraint   me   lays  them    under,  if  well  directed, 
'  will  increafe  their  afFe&ion,  inflead  of  leiTening  it  ; 

*  becaufe  a  ftate    of  dependence  being  natural  to  the 
'  fex,  they  perceive  themfelves  formed  for  obedience.' 

This  is  begging  the  queilion ;  for  fervitude  not  only 
debafes  the  individual,  but  its  effects  feem  to  be  tranf- 
mitted  to  pofterity.  Confidering  the  length  of  time 
that  women  have  been  dependent,  is  it  furpriiing  that 
fome  of  them  hug  their  chains,  and  fawn  like  the  fpa- 
niel  ?  '  Thefe  dogs,'  obferves  a  naturalift,  '  at  firfl  kept 
'  their  ears  eredl  ;  butcuftom  has  fuperieded  nature,  and 
f  a  token  of  fear  has  become  a  beauty.' 

'  For  the  fame  reafon,'  adds  RoufTeau,  '  women  have 
'  or  ought  to  have,  but  little  liberty  ;  they  are  apt  to 
f  indulge  themfelves  exceifively  in  what  is  allowed  themi 
«.  Addicted  in  every  thing  to  extremes,  they  are  even 

*  more  tranfported  at  their  diverfions  than  boys.' 

The  anfwer  to  this  is  very  fimple.  Slaves  and  mobs 
We  always  indulged  themfelves  in  the  fame  exccffes* 


VINDICATION   OF    THE 

when  once  they  broke  loofe  from  authority. — The  bent- 
bow  recoils  with  violence,  when  the  hand  is  fuddenly 
relaxed  that  forcibly  held  it ;  and  fenfibility,  the  play 
thing  of  outward  circumftances,  inuft  be  fubje&ed  to 
authority,  or  moderated  by  reafon. 

*  There  refalts,'  he  continues^  '  from  this  habitual 
'  reilraint,  a  traclablenefs  which  the  women  have  occa- 
(  lion  for  during  their  whole  lives,  as  they  conilantly 
'  remain  either  under  fabjeclion  to  the  men,  or  to  the 

*  opinions  of  mankind ;  and  are  never  permitted  to  fet 

*  themfelves  above  thofe  opinions.     The  firfr  and  mcft 
f  important  qualification  in  a  woman  is  good -nature  or 
€  fweetnefs  of  temper  :    formed  to  obey  a  being  fo  im- 

*  perfecl  as  man,  often  full  of  vices,  and   always  full  of 

*  faults,  ilie  ought  to  learn  betimes  even  to  fufFer  injuf- 

*  tice,  aud  to  bear  the  infultsofa  hufband  without  com- 
'  plaint;  it  is  not  for   his  fake,  but  her    own,  that  fhe 
'  mould  be .  of  a   mild   difpontion.      The  perverfenefs 

*  and  ill-nature  of  the  women  only   ferve  to  aggravate 
'  their  own  misfortunes,  and   the  mifcondud  of  their- 
'  hufbnnds ;   they  might  plainly  perceive  that  fuch  are: 

*  not  the  arms  by  which  they  gain  the  fuperiority.' 

Formed  to  live  with  fuch  an  imperfect  being  as 
man,  they  Bought  to  learn  from  the  exercife  of  their 
faculties  the  neceiiity  of  forbearance  ;  but  all  the 
facred  rights  of  humanity  are  violated  by  infilling  on 
blind  obedience ;  or,  the  mofl  facred  rights  belong  only.: 
to  man. 

The  being  who  patiently  endures  injuftice,  and  filently 
fcears  iafuhs,  will  foon.  become  unjuft,  or  unable  to  dif* 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  143 

cern  right  from  wrong.  Befides,  I  deny  the  fa6t,  this 
is  not  the  true  way  to  form  or  meliorate  the  temper  ; 
for,  as  a  fex,  men  have  better  tempers  than  women,  be- 
caufe  they  are  occupied  by  puriuits  that  intereft  the 
head  as  well  as  the  heart ;  and  the  fleadinefs  of  the 
head  gives  a  healthy  temperature  to  the  heart.  People 
of  feniibility  have  feldom  good  tempers,  The  forma 
tion  of  the  temper  is  the  cool  work  of  reafon,  when, 
as  life  advances,  me  mixes  with  happy  art,  jarring  ele 
ments.  I  never  knew  a  weak  or  ignorant  perfon  who 
had  a  good  temper,  though  that  conftitutional  good 
humour,  and  that  docility,  which  fear  fiamps  on  the  be 
haviour,  often  obtains  the  name.  I  fay  behaviour,  for 
genuine  meeknefs  never  reached  the  heart  or  mind,  un- 
lefs  as  the  effedl  of  reflection ;  and  that  iimple  reftraint 
produces  a  number  of  peccant  humours  in  domefUc 
life,  many  fenlible  men  will  allow,  who  find  fome  of 
thefe  gentle  irritable  creatures,  very  troublefome  com 
panions. 

'  Each  fex,'  he  further  argues,  '  mould  preferve  its 
'*  peculiar  tone  and  manner  ;  a  meek  hufband  may  make 
e  a  wife  impertinent ;  but  mildnefs  of  difpofition  on  the 
'  woman's  fide  will  always  bring  a  man  back  to  reafon, 
*  at  leaft  if  he  be  not  abfolutely  a  brute,  and  will  fooner 
f  or  later  triumph  over  him.'  True,  the  mildnefs  of 
'  reafon ;  but  abjeft  fear  always  infpires  contempt  ; 
'  and  tears  are  only  eloquent  when  they  flow  down  fair 
'  cheeks. 

Of  what  materials  can  that  heart  be  conipofed,  which 
can  melt  when  infulted,  and  inftead  of  revoking  at  in- 


144  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

juftice,  kifs  the  rod  ?  It  is  unfair  to  infer,  that  her  vir 
tue  is  built  on  narrow  views  and  felfiihnefs,  who  can 
carefs  a  man,  with  true  feminine  foftnefs,  the  very  mo 
ment  when  he  treats  her  tyrannically  ?  Nature  never 
dictated  fuch  infmcerity — and,  though  prudence  of  this 
fort  be  termed  a  virtue,  morality  becomes  vague  when 
any  part  is  fuppofed  to  reft  on  faliehood.  Thefe  are 
mere  expedients,  and  expedients  are  only  ufeful  for  the 
moment. 

Let  the  huiband  beware  of  trailing  too  implicitly  to 
this  fervile  obedience;  for  if  his  wife  can  with  winning 
fvveetnefs  carefs  him  when  angry,  and  when  ilie  ought 
to  be  angry,  unlefs  contempt  had  Hided  a  natural  effer- 
vefcence,  me  may  do  the  fame  after  parting  with  a 
lover.  Thefe  are  all  preparations  for  adultery  ;  or, 
mould  the  fear  of  the  world,  or  of  hell,  reftrain  her  de- 
fire  of  pleafing  other  men,  when  flie  can  no  longer 
pleafe  her  hufband,  what  fubfdtute  can  be  found  by  a 
being  who  was  only  formed  by  nature  and  art  to  pleafe 
man  ?  what  can  make  her  amends  for  this  privation,  or 
where  is  me  to  feek  for  a  frefh  employment  ?  where  find 
fumcient  ilrength  of  mind  to  determine  to  begin  the 
fearch,  when  her  habits  are  fixed,  and  vanity  has  long 
ruled  her  chaotic  mind  ? 

But  this  partial  moraliit  recommends  cunning  fyflem- 
atically  and  plauiibly. 

'  Daughters  Inould  be  always  fubmifiive ;  their  mo- 

•  thcrs,  however,  mould  not  be  inexorable.     To  make 
'  a  young  perfon  tractable,  me  ought  not   to  be  made 

•  unhappy  j  to  make  her  modeft  me  ought  not  to  be 


RIGHTS    ©F    WOMAN.  145 

<  rendered   flupid.     On   the  contrary,  I  mould  not  be 
'  difpleafed  at  her  being  permitted  to  ufe  fome  art,  not 

*  to  elude   puniihment  in  cafe  of  difobedience,  but  to 

*  exempt  herfelf  from  the  necefiity  of  obeying.     It  is 
'  not  neceflary  to  make  her  dependence   burdenfome, 
'  but  only  to  let  her  feel  it.     Sabtilty  is  a  talent  natural 
'  to  the  fex  ;  and  as  I  am  perfuaded,  all  our  natural  in- 
(  clinations  are   right  and  good  in  themfelves,  I  am  of 

*  opinion  this  mould  be  cultivated  as  well  as  the  others  : 
f  it  is  requhite  for  us  only  to  prevent  its  abufe.' 

<  \Vliatever  is,  is  right,'  he  then  proceeds  trium 
phantly  to  infer.  Granted  ; — yet  perhaps,  no  apho- 
riim  ever  contained  a  more  paradoxical  affertion.  It 
is  a  foiemn  truth  with  refpecl  to  God.  He,  reveren 
tially  I  ipe^k,  fees  the  whole  at  once,  and  faw  its  juft 
propurtions  in  the  womb  of  time  j  but  man,  who  can 
omy  impecl  disjointed  parts,  fixids  many  things  wrong; 
and  it  is  a  part  of  the  fyftem,  and  therefore  right,  that 
he  (liould  endeavour  to  alter  what  appears  to  him  to 
be  fo,  even  while  he  bows  to  the  Wii'Jorn  of  his  Crea 
tor,  and  refpe£ts  the  darkneis  he  labours  to  difperfe. 

The  inference  that  follows  is  juft,  fuppoiing  the 
•principle  to  be  found,  •  The  Riperiority  of  addrefs, 
'  peculiar  to  cue  fen;  Lie  f  x,  is  a  v-er^-*  equitable  indein- 
(  nification  for  ,  u, ilry  ii  point  of  ftrengrh  : 

'  without  this,  woman  would  not  be  the  compuiiion  of 

*  man  ;  but  his  flave  :  it  L-  by  her  iuperlor  art  and  inge- 
'  nuity  that    ilie    preierves    her  e  ju:Jity,  and   governs 

*  him  while    (he  affects    to  obey.     Wom^n  has  every 
'  thing  againil  her,  as  well  our  fauits  as  her  own  timi- 


146  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

«  dlty  and  weaknefs :  me  has  nothing  in  her  favour,  but 
f  her  fubtility  and  her  beauty,  Is  it  not  very  reafona- 
'  able,  therefore,  {he  ftiould  cultivate  both  ?  Greatnefs 
of  mind  can  never  dwell  with  cunning  or  addrefs,  for 
I  {hall  not  boggle  about  words,  when  their  direct  fig- 
nification  is  infmcerky  and  falfehood  ;  but  content  my- 
fclf  with  obferving,  that  if  any  ciafs  of  mankind  are  to 
be  educated  by  rules,  not  ftrictly  deducible  from  truth, 
virtue  is  an  affair  of  convention.  How  could  Rouffeau 
dare  to  afTert,  after  giving  this  advice,  that  in  the  grand 
end  of  exiilence,  the  object  of  both  fexes  {hould  be  the 
fame,  when  he  well  knew,  that  the  mind  formed  by  its 
purfuits,  is  expanded  by  great  views  fwallowing  up 
little  ones,  or  that  it  becomes  itfelf  little  ? 

Men  have  fuperior  flrength  of  body  ;  but  were  it  not 
for  miftaken  notions  of  beauty,  women  would  acquire 
fufficient  to  enable  them  to  earn  their  own  fSbfiftence> 
the  true  definition  of  independence  ;  and  to  bear  tho/e 
bodily  inconveniences  and  exertions  that  are  requifite  to 
ilrengthen  the  miiid. 

Let  us  then,  by  being  allowed  to  take  the  fame  exer- 
cife  as  boys,  not  only  during  infancy,  but  youth,  arrive 
at  perfection  of  body,  th^t  we  may  knovv  how  far  the 
natural  fuperiority,  of  man  extends.  For  what  reafon 
or  virtue  can  be  expecled  from  a  creature  when  the  feed- 
time  of  life  is  negle^td  ?  None— did  not  the  winds  of 
heaven  cafually  fcatter  many  ufeful  feeds  in  the  fallow 
ground. 

'  Beauty  cannot  be  acquired  by  drefs,  and  coquetry 
'  is  an  art  not  fo  early  and  fpeedily  attained.  While 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  147  ' 

*  girls  are  yet  young,  however,,  they  arc  in  a  capa- 
*'  city  to  {lady  agreeable  gefture,  a  pleafmg   mod 

'  tion  of  voice,  an  eafy  carnage  and  behaviour ;  as 
'  well  as  to  take  the  advantage  of  gracefully  adapt!' -g 
<  their  looks  and  attitudes  to  time,  place,  and  occaik;\. 

*  Their   application,    therefore,    fhould  not  be  il: 

f  confined  to  the  arts  of  induflry  and  the  needle,  when 

*  they  come  to  difplay  other  talents,  whofe  utility  is 

*  already  apparent.* 

'  For  my  part,  I  would  have  a  young  Englishwoman 
'  cultivate  her  agreeable  talents,  in  order  to  pleafejier 
'  future  hufband,  with  as  much  care  and  afliduity  as  a 
'  young  Circailian  cultivates  her's,  to  fit  her  for  the 
f  haram  of  an  Eaflern  bafhaw.' 

To  render  women  completely  infignificant,  he  adds, 
• — f  The  tongues  of  women  are  very  voluble;  they 

*  fpeak  earlier,  more  readily,  and  more  agreeably  than 
'  the  men ;  they   are   accufed  alfo   of  fpcaking   much 
'  more :    but    fo    it    ought    to    be,    and    I   fnouki   be 

*  very  ready  to  convert  this   reproach _  into   a  compli- 

*  ment;  their  lips  and  eyes  h.;ve  the  fume  aclivity,  rnd 

*  for  the  fame    reafon.     A    man   fpe^ks   of  wli^t   he 
'  knows,  a  woman  of  what  pleafes  her;  the   one   re- 
'  quires  knowledge,  the  o.h:r  Uite ;  the  principal  ob- 
'  jecl  of  a  man's   difcoarfe   fliould   be   v/hr.t   is   u'eful, 

*  that  of  a  woman's  what  is  agreeable.     There  ought 

*  to  be  nothing  in  common   between   their  different 

*  conversion  but  truth.' 

'  We  ought  not,  therefore,  to  refir.-in  the  prattle  of 

*  £irls,  in  the  ferae  manner  as  we  fhould  thut  of  bo)  s, 

O 


I4-H  VINDICATION    OF    THE 


'T 


'   with   that  fevere  queillon,  To  '*what  purpcfc  are  yc:t 

*  talking?  but  by  another,  which  is  nolefs  difficult  to 
c  anfwer,  How  will  your  difcourfc  he  received?     In  in- 

*  fancy,  while  they   are    as    yet   incapable  to  difcern 
<  good  from  evil,  they  ought  to  obferve  it  as  a  law, 
«  never  to  fay  any  thing  difagTeei>ble   to   thofif  whom 
f  they  are  fpeaking  to :  what  will  render  the   practice 

*  of  this  rule   alfo  the   more   diilicah,  is,  that.itiLUil 
'  ever  be  fubordinate  to  the  former,  of  neveP^peaking 
-*  falfely  or  telling  an  untruth.'    To  govern  the  tongue 
in  this  manner  niafc  require  great  addrefs  indeed ;  and 
it  is  too  much  pradtifed  both  by  men   and  women.— 
Out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart   how   few   ipea.k! 
So  few,  that  I,  who  love  fimplicity,  would  gladly  give 
up  pplitenefa  for  a  quarter  of  the  virtue  thai  has   been 
facrificed  to  an  equivocal  quality,  which,  at  beft,  mould 
be  only  the  polifli  of  virtue. 

But  to  complete  the  fketch.  '  It  is  eafy  to  be  con^ 
'  ccived,  that  if  niak  children  are  not  in  a  capacity  to 
'  form  any  true  notions  of  religion,  thoie  ideas  muft 
s  be  greatly  above  the  conception  of  the  females :  it  is 
'  for  ihis  very  reruon,  I  would  begin  to  ipeak  to  them 

*  the  earlier  on  this   fubjecl;  for   if  we   were    to   wait 
(  till  they  were  in  a   capacity   to  difcufs  methodically 
f  ilich  profoundiquefrions,  we  fhould  run  a  rifk  of  never 
«  fpeaking  to  them   on   this  fubjedt  as  long  as  they 
'  lived.     Reafon  in  women  is  a  practical  reaion,  c-ipa- 

<  citsti:  •  . '..faliy  to   diicover   ttie    ireans   or  at- 

<  f..  I,  but  whkh  would  never  enable 

O 

*  tiicni  co  uifcovtr  that  end  itfelf.    The  focial  reutioiu 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  149 

*  of  ihe  fexes  are  indeed  truly  admirable :  from  their 
union  there  refults  a  moral  perfon,  of  which  woman 

*  may    be   termed  the  eyes,  and  man  the  Land,  with 
'  this  dependence  on  each  other,  that  it   is   from   the 

*  man  that  the  woman  is  to  learn  what  ihe  is  to  fee, 

*  and  it  is   of  the  woman  that  man  is  to  learn  what  he 
'  ought  to  do.     If  woman  could  recur  to  the  firiT;  prin- 

*  ciples  of  things  as  well  as  man,  and  man  was  capa- 
'  citated  to  enter  into  their  minuii&  as  well  as  woman, 
'  always  independent  of  each  other,  they  would  live 

*  in  perpetual  difcord,  and  their  union  could  not  fub- 
'  fift.     But   in  the   prefent   harmony  which  natur 

'  (ubfifts  between  them,  their  dlirercnt  faculties  tend  to 

*  one  common  end ;  it  is  difficult  to  fay  which  of  them 

*  conduces  the  moft  to  it :  each  follows  the  impulfe  of 

*  the  other;  each  is  obedient,  and  both  are  mailers.' 

*  As  the  conduct  of  a  woman   is  fubfervient    to   the 
f  public  opinion,  her  faith  in  matters  of  religion  mould, 
'  for  that  very  reafon,  be  fubj-cl  to  authority.     E*uery 
'    daughter  ought  to  le  of  the  fame  religion  as  her  mother, 
'   and  every  wife  to  be  of  the  fame  religion  as  her  hujband: 
e  for,  though  J'ttch    religion  jnould  be  falj'e,   thai   docility 
(  which  induces  the  mother  and  daughter  to  fitbmit  to   the 
(  order  of  nature,  takes  away,  in  the  fight   of  God,  ihe 
€  criminality  of  their  error'*     As    they   are    not    in.  a 

*  Wbat  is  to  be  the  ccnfequence*  if  the  waller's  and  bitftand*s   opi 
nion  jhould  ch'-ince  not  to  agree?      An   ign^rsat  perfi,n   cannot   ie   rea- 
FuHid  out  of  an  error      and  *w,:en  p.-ilu  .<!'  LI    to  give    lib    one  prrjudlce 
fat  andthtr,   the  mti-i  is  unfettled.      Indeed,   the  hujtand    may   r,ot    bavs 
any  r.  Itvion  to  teach  f.>cr     though  >n  fitch  a  jiti'tition  the  t>:~ll  Le  'ft  preat 
•Want  oj  afufport  to  her  vitius,  indutHndeni  oj  •worldly  cunjidgratisns,   •> 

Q  2 


15O  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

*  capacity  to  judge  for  themfelves,  they  ought  to  abide 

*  by  the  deciiion  of  their  fathers  and  hufbands  as  con- 

*  fidently  as  by  that  of  the  church,' 

4  As  authority   ought  to  regulate   the  religion  of 
«  the  women,  it  is  not  fo  needful  to  explain   to  them 

*  the  reafons  for  their  belief,  as  to  lay  down  precifely 
«  the  tenets  they  are  to  believe  :  for   the   creed,  which 

*  prefents  only  obfcure  ideas  to  the  mind,  is  the  fource 

*  of  fanaticifm ;  and  that  which  prefents  abfurdities, 
«  leads' to  infidelity.3 

Abfolute,  uncontroverted  authority,  it  feems,  muft 
fubfiil  fomewhere :  but  is  not  this  a  direct  and  exclufive 
appropriation  of  reafcn  ?  The  rights  of  humanity  have 
been  thus  confined  to  the  male  line  from  Adam  down 
wards.  Rouffeau  would  carry  his  male  ariilocracy  ftill 
further,  for  he  infinuates,  that  he  mould  not  blame  thofe, 
who  contend  for  leaving  woman  in  a  (late  of  the  moft 
profound  ignorance,  if  it  were  not  necefTary,  in  order 
to  preferve  her  chaflity,  and  juftify  the  man's  choice 
an  the  eyes  of  the  world,  to  give  her  a  little  know 
ledge  of  men,  and  the  cuftcms  produced  by  human 
>ns;  elfe  fne  might  propagate  at  home  without 
being  rendered  lefs  voluptuous '  and  innocent  by  the 
exercife  of  her  underftanding :  excepting,  indeed, 
during  the  firft  year  of  marriage,  when  (he  might 
employ  it  to  drefs,  like  Sophia.  f  Her  drefs  is  ex- 

*  treirely  modefl  in  appearance,  and  yet  very  coquet- 
'  tiila   in   fkcl: :    me  does   not   make  a  difplay  of  her 
'  charms,  (he  conceals  them;  but,  in  concealing  them, 
€  flic  knows  how  to  afFecl  your  imagination.     Every 


RIGHTS   OF  WOMAN.  151 

*  one  who  fees  her,  will  fay,  There  is   a  modeft  and 

*  difcreet  girl;  but  white  you  are  near  her,  your  eyes 
'  and  affections  wander  ail   over  her   perfon,  fo  that 
'  you  cannot    withdraw   them ;  and    you   would  con- 
'•  elude  that  every  part  of  her  drefs,  iimple  as  it  feems, 
c  was  only  put  in  its  proper  order  to  be  taken  to  pieces 

*  by  the  imagination.'     Is  this  modelly?  Is  this  a  pre 
paration   for  irr.morulity !  Again. — What  opinion  are 
we  to  form  of  a  fyflem  of  education,  when  the  author 
fays  of  his  heroine,  '  that  with  her,  doing  things  well 

*  is  but  a  fecondary  concern :  her  principal  concern    i» 

*  to  do  them  neatly* 

Secondary,  in  fift,  are  all  her  virtues  and  qualities, 
for,  respecting  religion,  he  m:.kes  her  parents  thus 
addrefs  her,  accuilomed  to  fubmifiion — '  Your  huibund 

*  will  indraft  you  in  good  time.' 

After  thus  cramping  a  woman's  mind,  if,  irt  order 
to  keep  it  fair,  he  has  not  made  it  quite  a  blank,  he 
advifes  her  to  reflect,  that  a  reflecting  man  may  not- 
yawn  in  her  company,  when  lie  is  tired  of  Carefling  her. 
—What  has  me  to  reflect  about,  who  muft  obey  ?  and 
would  it  not  be  a  refinement  on  cruelty  only  to  open  her 
mind  to  make  the  darknefs  and  mifery  of  her  fate  ijljilh? 
Yet  thefe  are  his  fenfxble  remarks ;  how  confiu 
what  I  have  already  been  obliged  to  quote,  to  give  a. 
feir  view  of  the  fubjecl,  the  reader  may  determine. 

'  They  who  pafs  their  whole  lives  in    working  for 

*  their  daily  bread,  have  no  ideas  beyond  their  bufmefs. 

*  or  their  intereft,  and  all  their  underilanding  feems  to 

*  lie  in.  theii  finge4*s>  ends.     This  ignorance  is  neither 

0* 


152  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

e  prejudicial  to  their  integrity  nor  their  morals ;  it  is 
f  often  of  fervice  to  them.  Sometimes,  by  mean-s  of 
e  refle&ion,  we  are  led  to  compound  with  our  duty, 
e  and  we  conclude,  by  fubflituting  a  jargon  of  words 

*  in.  the  room  of  things.     Our  own  confcience  is  the 
€  moft  enlightened  philofopher.     There  is  no  need  of 
'  being  acquainted  with  Tuliy's  offices,  to  make  a  man 
'  of  probity :  and  perhaps  the  moil  virtuous  woman  in 
'  die  world  is  the  leaft  acquainted  with  the  definition 
'  of  viitue.     But  it  is  no  lefs  true,  that  an   improved 
f  .underftanding  can  only  render  fociety  agreeable ;  and 
'  it  is  a  melancholy  thing  for  a  father  of  a  family,  who 
c  is  fond  of  home,  to  be  obliged,  to  be  always  wrapped 

*  up   in  himfelf,    and   to   have   nobody  about  him  to 

*  whom  he  can  impart  his  fentiments.* 

'  Befides,  how  mould  a  woman  void  of  reflection  be 

*  capable  of  educating  her  children?     How  fliould  me 
'  difcern  what  is  proper  for   them?     How  mould  me 
'  incline   them   to  thofe   virtues    ihe  is   unacquainted 

*  with,  or  to  that  merit   of  which  ihe   has   no  idea? 

*  She  can  only  foothe  or  chide  them ;  render  them  infc- 

*  lent  or  timid ;  me  will  make  them  formal  coxcombs, 

*  or  ignorant  blockheads ;  but  will   never  make  them 
'  fenfible  or  amiable.7     How  indeed  mould  ihe,  when 
her  hufband  is  not  always  at  hand  to  lend  her  his  rea- 

fon  ? when  they  both  together  make  but  one  moral 

being.     A  blind  will,  '  eyes   without   hands,'  would 
go  a  very  little  way ;  and  perchance  his  abftrad  reafon, 
that  ihould  concentrate  the   fcattered   beams    of   her 
practical  reafon.,  may  be  employed  in  judging  of  the 


RIGHTS   OF  WOMAN,  153 

flavour  of  wine,  de 'canting  on  the  fauces  moil  proper 
for  turtle ;  or,  more  profoundly  intent  at  a  card-table, 
he  may  be  generalizing  his  ideas  as  he  bets  away  his 
fortune,  leaving  all  the  mi  unties  of  education  to  his 
helpmate  or  to  chance. 

But,  granting  that  woman  ought  to  be  beautiful, 
innocent,  and  filly,  to  render  her  a  more  alluring  and 
indulgent  companion; — what  is  her  underitanding 
Cicrificed  for?  And  why  is  all  this  preparation  necef- 
fary  only,  according  to  Roufleau's  own  account,  to 
make  her  the  miitrefs  of  her  huiband,  a  very  fhort 
time  ?  For  no  man  ever  infilled  more  on  the  tranfient 
nature  of  love.  Thus  fpeaks  the  philosopher.  '  Senlual 

*  pleasures  are  tranfient.  The  habitual  itacc  of  the  affec- 
'  tiuns  always  lofes  by  their  gratification.     The  imagi- 
'  nation,  which  decks  the  objecl  of  our  defires,  is  iofl  in 
'•  fruition.    Excepting  the  Supreme  Being,  who  is  feif- 
'  exiiicnt,  there  is  nothing  beautiful  but  what  is  ideal. 

But  he  returns  to  his  unintelligible  paradoxes  again, 
when  lie  thus  addrefTes  Sophia.  '  Emilius,  in.  becoming 
'  your  huiband,  is  become  your  mafter;  and  claims 
'  your  obedience.  Such  is  the  order  of  nature.  When 
'  a  man  is  married,  however,  to  fuch  a  wife  as  Sophia, 

*  it  is  proper  he  mould  be  directed  by  her:  this  is  alfo 

*  agreeable  to  the  order  of  nature :  it  is,  therefore,  to 

*  give  you  as  much  authority  over  his  heart  as-  his   fex 
*-  gives  him  over  your  perfon,  that  I  have  made  you  the 

*  arbiter  of  his  pleafures.     It  may  coft  you,  perhaps, 
'  fome  difagreeable  felf  denial ;  but  you   will  be   cer- 
f  tain  of 'maintaining  your  empire  over  him    if  you 


154  VINDICATION   OF    THE 

*  can  preferve  it  over  yourfelf—  what  I  have  already  ob- 
«  ferved,  alfo  mows  me,  that  this  diiiicult  attempt  doe& 

*  not  furpafs  your  courage. 

'  Would  you  have  your  hufband  conftantly  at  your 
'  feet  ?  keep  him  at  ibme  diftunce  from  your  perion. 

*  You  will  long  maintain  the  authority  of  love,  if  you 

*  know  but  how  to  render  your  favours  rare  and  valu- 
'  able.     It  is  thus  you  may  employ   even  the  arts  of 

*  coquetry  in  the  lervice  of  virtue,  and  thofe  of  love  in 
'  that  of  reafon.' 

I  mall  cloie  my  extracts  with  a  juft  defcription  of  a 
comfortable  couple.  *  And  yet  you  mult  not  imagine, 

*  that  even  fuch  management  will  always  iufiice.  Whut- 

*  ever  precaution  be  taken,  enjoyment  will,  by  degrees, 
f  take  off  the  edge  of  paffion.      But  when  love  hath 

*  lailed  as  long  as  pofiible,  a  pleafmg  habitude  fupplies 

*  its  place,  and  the  attachment  of  a  mutual  conhdencc 
€  fuccteds  to  the  tranipons  of  paffion.     Children  often 
'form  a  more  agreeable  and  permanent  connection  be- 

*  tween  married  people   than  even  love  itfelf.     When 
'  you  ceaie  to  be  the  miftrels  of  Emilius,  you  will  con- 
'  tinue  to  be  his  wife  and  friend,  you  will  be  the  mo- 

*  ther  of  his  children.'* 

Children,  he  truly  obferves,  form  a  much  more  per 
manent  connection  between  married  people  than  love. 
Beauty  he  declares  will  not  be  valued,  or  even  leen,  after 
a  couple  have  lived  fix  months  together ;  artificial 
graces  and  coquetry  will  likewiie  pall  on  the  ienfes  : 


RIGHTS    OF     WO?vIAN.  155 

why  then  does  he  fay,  that  a  girl  mould  be  educated 
for  her  hultund  with  the-  fame  care  as  for  an  Eaftern 
haram. 

I  now  appeal  from  the  reveries  of  fancy  and  refined 
licentioufnefs  to  the  good  fenfe  of  mankind,  whether, 
if  the  object  of  education  be  to  prepare  women  to  become 
chafle  wives  and  fenfible  mothers',  the  method  fo  plau- 
fibly  recommended  in  the  foregoing,  fketch,  be  the  one 
befl  calculated  to  produce  tliofe  ends  ?  Will  it  be  al 
lowed  that  the  fureft  way  to  make  a  wife  chafte,  is  to 
teach  her  to  prac~Ufe  the  wanton  arts  of  a  miitrefs 
termed  virtuous  conquetry,  by  the  fenfualifts  who  can 
no  longer  relifli  the  artlefs  charms  of  fmcerity,  or  tafte 
the  pleafure  arifing  from  a  tender  intimacy,  when  con 
fidence  is  unchecked  by  fufpicion,  and  rendered  inte- 
reiUng  by  fenfe  ? 

The  man  who  can  be  contented  to  live  with  a  pretty « 
ufeful  companion  without  a  mind,  has  lofc  in  volup^ 
tuous  gratifications  a  tafte  for  more  refined  enjoyments ; 
he  has  never  felt  the  cairn  fatisfaclion,  that  refrefhes 
the  parched  heart,  like  the  filent  dew  of  heaven — of 
being  beloved  by  one  who  could  unden^and  him. — -In 
the  fociety  of  his  wife  he  is  ftill  alone,  unlefs  when 
the  man  is  funk  in  the  brute.  *  The  charm  of  life/ 
fays  a  grave  philofophical  reafoner,  is  f  {ympathy  ; 
f  nothing  pleafes  us  more  than  to  obferve  in  other 
'  men  a  fellow-feeling  with,  all  the  emotions  of  our 
*  own  breaft.' 

But,  according  to  the  tenor  of  reafoning,  by  which 
.women  are  kept  from  tlie  tree  of  knowledge,  the  im- 


VINDICATION   OF    THE 

portant  years  of  youth,  the  ufefulnefs  of  age,  and  the 
rational  hopes  of  futurity,  are  all  to  be  facrificed  to  ren 
der  woman  an  objeft  of  defire  for  a  fhort  time,  Be- 
fides,  how  could  RoufTeau  expert  them  to  be  virtuous 
and  conftant  when  reafon  is  neither  allowed  to  be  the 
foundation  of  their  virtue,  nor  truth  the  object  of  their 
inquiries  ? 

But  all  RoufTeau's  errors  in  reafoning  arofe  from 
fenfibility,  and  feniibility  to  their  charms  women  are 
very  ready  to  forgive  !  When  he  mould  have  reafoned, 
he  became  impafiioned,  and  reflection  inflamed  his  ima 
gination,  initead  of  enlightening  his  underflanding. 
Even  his  virtues  alfo  led  him  farther  aftray  ;  for,  born 
with  a  warm  conftitution  and  lively  fancy,  nature  car 
ried  him  toward  the  other  fex,  with  fuch  eager  fond- 
nefs,  that  he  foon  became  lafcivious.  Had  he  given 
way  to  thefe  denies,  the  fire  would  have  extinguifhed 
itfelf  in  a  natural  manner,  but  virtue,  and  a  romantic 
kind  of  delicacy,  made  him  practice  felf-denial  ;  yet, 
\vhen  fear,  delicacy,  or  virtue  retrained  him,  he  de 
bauched  his  imagination  ;  and,  reflecting  on  the  fenfa- 
tions  to  which  fancy  gave  force,  he  traced  them  in  the 
jnoft  glowing  colours,  and  funk  them  deep  into  his  foul. 

He  then  fought  for  folitude,  not  to  fleep  with  the  man 
of  nature  ;  or  calmly  invefligate  the  cauies  of  things 
under  the  made  where  Sir  Ifaac  Newton  indulged  con 
templation,  but  merely  to  indulge  his  feelings.  And 
fo  warmly  has  he  painted,  what  he  forcibly  felt,  that, 
interefting  the  heart  and  inflaming  the  imagination  of 
his  readers  j  iu  proportion  to  the  ftrength  of  their  fancy, 


RIGHTS   OF    WOMAN.  157 

they  imagine  that  their  under-Handing  is  convinced  wl}en 
they  only  fympathize  with  a  poetic  writer,  who  ikilfuUy 
exhibits  the  object  of  fenfe,  moft  voluptuously  ihadowed 
or  gracefully  veiled— and  thus  making  us  feel,  whilft 
dreaming  that  we  reafon,  erroneous  conclulions  are  left 
in  the  mind. 

Why  was  Rouileau's  life  divided  between  exftacy  and 
miiery  ?  Can  any  other  aniwer  be  given  than  this,  that 
the  effervefcence  of  his  imagination  produced  both  ; 
but,  had  his  fincy  been  allowed  to  cool,  it  is  poiTible 
that  he  might  have  acquired  more  ilrength  of  mind. 
Still,  if  the  purpoie  of  life  be  to  educate  the  intellectual 
part  of  man,  ail  with  reipeft  to  him  was  right  ;  yet, 
rud  not  deatli  led  to  a  nobler  fcene  ot  adion,  it  is  pro 
bable  that  he  would  have  enjoyed  more  equal  happi- 
nefs  on  earth,  and  have  felt  the  Calm  feniations  of  the 
man  of  nature,  inltead  of  being  prepared  ror  another 
ftage  of  exiftenceby  nourishing  the  paifions  whica  agi 
tate  the  civilized  man. 
• 

But  peace  to  his  manes  !  I  war  not  with  his  aflies, 
but  his  opinions.  I  war  only  with  the  feniibility  that  led 
him  to  degrade  woman  by  nuking  her  tiie  (lave  of  love. 

•       i      '   Citft'd  *DaJTitlqtrey 

*  F':rf  :(':,:,^.  d  till  (avis  voifirs  L-  Ser, 

*  Tbenjlavci  to  t1- oje  ivw  com'tiid  t;s  before* 

Drj'den. 

The  pernicious  tendency  of  thofe  books,  in  which 
the  writers  inlUioufly  degrade  the  fex,  whilft  they  arc 


158  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

proflrate  before  their  perfonal  charms,  cannot  be  too 
often  or  too  feverely  expofed. 

Let  us,  my  dear  cotemporaries,  arife  above  fuch  nar 
row  prejudices  !  If  v/ifdom  is  defirable  on  its  own  ac 
count,  if  virtue,  to  deferve  the  name,  muft  be  founded 
on  knowledge  ;  let  us  endeavour  to  flrengthen  our  minds 
by  reflection,  till  our  heads  become  a  balance  for  our 
hearts ;  let  us  not  confine  all  our  thoughts  to  the  petty 
Occurrences  of  the  day,  nor  our  knowledge  to  an  ac 
quaintance  with  our  lovers'  or  hufbands'  hearts ;  but  let 
the  practice  of  every  duty  be  fubordinate  to  the  grand 
one  of  improving  our  minds,  and  preparing  our  affec 
tions  for  a  more  exalted  ilate  ! 

Beware  then,  my  friends,  of  fuffering  the  heart  to  be 
moved  by  every  trivial  incident :  the  reed  is  ihaken  by 
a  breeze,  and  annually  dies,  but  the  oak  ftands  firm,  and 
for  ages  braves  the  ftorm. 

Were  we,  indeed,  only  created  to  flutter  our  hour 
Out  and  die — why  let  us  then  indulge  fcnfibility,  and 
laugh  at  the  feve  ity  of  reafon. — Yet,  alas  !  even  then 
we  mould  want  flrength  of  body  and  mind,  and  life 
would  be  loft  in  feverifti  pleafures  of  wearifome  knguor. 

But  the  fyftem  of  education  which  I  earnellly  wifli 
to  fee  exploded,  feerr-s  to  pre-fuppofe,  what  ought  never 
to  be  taken  for  granted,  that  virtue  fhields  us  from  the 
casualties  of  life;  and  that  fortune,  flipping  ofF  her 
bandage,  willfmile  on  a  well-educated  female,  and  bring 
in  i^.-r  hand  an  Emilius  or  a  Telemachus.  Whilft,  on 
the  contrary,  the  reward  which  virtue  promifes  to  her 
votaries  is  conHned,  it  is  clear  to  their  own  bofoms ; 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  I  $$ 

and  often  mull  they  contend  with  the  moil  vexatious 
worldly  cares,  and  bear  with  the  vices  and  humours  of 
relations  for  whom  they  can  never  feel  a  friendihip. 

There  have  been  many  women  in  the  world  #ho,  in- 
ftead  of  being  fupportedby  the  reafon  and  \  "  -.eir 

fathers  and  brothers,  have  flrengthened  tk-  '-ids 

by  fcraggling  with  their  vices  and  follies  ;  ne 

ver  met  with  a  hero,  in  the  iliape  of  a  hidband  -,  who, 
paying  the  debt  that  mankind  owed  them,  Anight  chance 
to  bring  back  their  reafon  to  its  natural  depcj.ient  Hate, 
and  rellore  the  ufurped  prerogative,  of  rifmg  above  opi 
nion,  to  man. 

SECT.  II. 

DR.  FORDYCE'S  fermons  have  long  made  a  part  of 
a  young  woman's  library ;  nay,  girls  at  fchool  are  allow  . 
ed  to  read  them;  but  I  mould  inftantly  difmifs  t>  n 
from  my  pupil's,  if  I  wimed  to  ilrengthen  her  m  der- 
ftanding,  by  leading  her  to  form  found  prind;.  ;>  en 
a  broad  bafis  ;  or,  were  I  only  anxious  to  cultiv,,.:  her 
tafte  ;  though  they  mult  be  allowed  to  contain  m-vy  fcn- 
fible  obfervations. 

Dr.  Fordyce  may  have  had  a  very  laudable  end  in 
view;  but  thefe  difcourfes  are  written  in  fuch  an  affec~l- 
ed  ftyle,  that  were  it  only  on  that  account,  and  had  I  no 
thing  to  object  againll  his  mellifluous  precepts,  1  mould 
not  allow  girls  to  perufe  them,  unlefs  I  defigned  to  hunt 
every  fpark  of  nature  out  of  their  compofition,  melting 
every  human  quality  into  female  weaknefs  and  artificial 
grace.  I  fay  artificial,  for  true  grace  arifes  from  fome 
kind  of  independence  of  mind. 


VINDICATION., OF.  THE 

Children,  carelefs  of  pleafmg,  and  only  anxious  to 
amufe  themfelves,  are  often  very  graceful ;  and  the  nobi 
lity  who  have  moftly  lived  with  inferiors,  and  always 
had  the  command  of  money,  acquire  a  graceful  eafe  of 
deportment,  which  mould    rather  be   termed  habitual 
grace  of  body,  than  that  fuperior  gracefulnefs  which  is 
truly  the  expremon  of  the  mind.     This  mental  grace, 
not  noticed  by  vulgar  eyes,  often  flames  acrofs  a  rough 
countenance,  and   irradiating  every  feature,  mows  fim- 
plicity  and  independence  of  mind. — It  is  then  we  read 
characters  of  immortality  in  the  eye,  and  fee  the  foul  in 
every  geilure,  though  when  at  reft,  neither  the  face  nor 
limbs  may  have  much  beauty  to  recommend  them ;  or 
the  behaviour,  any  thing  peculiar  to  attract  univerfal 
attention.     The   rrufs  of  mankind,  however,   look    for 
more  tangible  beauty;  yet  fimplicity  is,  in  general,  ad 
mired,  when  people  do  not  confider  what  they  admire  ; 
and  can  there  be  fimplicity  without  fincerity?  but,  to 
have  done  with  remarks  that  are  in  fome  meaiure  deful- 
tcry,  though  naturally  excited  by  the  fubject — 

In  declamatory  periods  Dr.  Fordyce  fpins  out  Rouf- 
feau's  eloquence ;  and  in  molt  fentimental  rant,  details 
his  opinions  refpecting  the  female  character,  and  .he  be 
haviour  which  woman  ought  to  amame  to  render  her  lovely . 
He  fliall  fpeak  for  himfelf,  for  thus  he  makes  Nature 
addrefs  man.  '  Behold  thefe  fmiling  innocents,  wlum 
'  I  have  graced  with  my  faireil  gifts,  and  committed  to 
'  your  protection  ;  behold  tnem  with  love  and  reipect ; 
« treat  them  with  tendernefs  and  honour.  They  are 
'  timid  and  want  to  be  defended.  They  are  frail;  O 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  l6l 

•  do  not  take  advantage  of  their  weaknefs !  Let  their 
(  fears  and  blames  endear  them.     Let  their  confidence 
«  in  you  never  be  ahufed. — But  is  it  pofiible,  that  any  of 
'  you  can  be  fuch  barbarians,  fo  fupremely  wicked,  as 
'  to  abufe  it  ?   Can  you  find  in  your  hearts*  to  defpoil 
'the  gentle,  trufting  creatures  of  their  treafure,  or  do 
'any  thing  to  ftrip  them  of  their  native  robe  of  virtue  ? 
'  Curft  be  the  impious  hand  that  would  dare  to  violate 

*  the  unblemiihed  form  of  Chaflity  !  Thou   wretch  ! 
'  thou  ruffian  !  forbear  ;  nor  venture  to  provoke  heaven's 
,  fiercefl  vengeance.*     I  know  not  any  comment  that 
can  be  made  ferioafly  on  this  curious  paflTage,  and  I  could 
produce  many  fimilar  ones ;  and  forne,   fo  very   fenti- 
mental,  that  I  have  heard  rational  men  ufe  the  word  in- 
decent  when  they  mentioned  them  with  difguit. 

Throughout  there  is  a.  difplay  of  cold  artificial  feel 
ings,  and  that  parade  of  fenfibility  which  boys  and  girls 
fliould  be  taught  to  defpife  as  the  fare  mark  of  a  little 
vain  mind.  Florid  appeals  are  made  to  heaven,  and  to 
^.beauteous  innocents,  the  faireft  images  of  heaven  here 
below,  whilft  fober  fenfe  is  left  far  behind. — This  is 
not  the  language  of  the  heart,  nor  will  it  ever  reach  it, 
though  the  ear  may  be  tickled. 

I  mall  be  told,  perhaps,  that  the  public  have  been 
pleafed  with  thefe  volumes, — True — and  Hervey's  Me 
ditations  are  Hill  read,  though  he  equally  finned  againil 
fenfe  and  tafle. 

I  particularly  object  to  the  lover-like  phrafes  of  pump 
ed  up  piffion,  which  are  every  were  interfperfed.  If 

*  Can  you  ? — Can  you  ?  'would  be  the  moft  emphatic*}  somment^  ivert 
it  draivhd  out  in  a.iuhininz  votes. 


l62  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

women  be  ever  allowed  to  walk  without  leadmg-ftrings, 
why  muft  they  be  cajoled  into  virtue  by  artful  flattery 
and  fexual  compliments? — Speak  to  them  the  language 
of  truth  and  fobernefs,  and  away  with  the  lullaby  ftrains 
of  condefcending  indearment  \  Let  them  be  taught   to. 
refpect  themfelves  as  rational  creatures,  and  not  led  to 
have  a  paiTion  for  their  own  iniipid  perfons.     It   moves 
my  gall  to  hear  a  preacher  defcanting  ondrefs  and  needle 
work  j  and  frill  more,  to  hear  him  addrefs  the  Britijh 
fair,  ibe  fair  eft  of  the  fair,  as  if  they  had  only  feelings. 

Even  recommending  piety  he  ufes  the  following  ar 
gument.  '  Never,  perhaps,  does  a  fine  woman  flrike 
'  more  deeply,  than  when,  compofed  into  pious  recollec- 
t  tion,  and  poffeffed  with  the  nobleft  confiderations,  me 
'  afTumes,  without  knowing  it,  fuperior  dignity  and  new  ] 
<  graces;  fo  that  the  beauties  of  holinefs  feem  to  radiate 

*  about  hei,  and  the  by-Hand ers  arc  almofl  induced  to 
c  'fancy  her  already  wormipping  amongft  her  kindred 

*  angels  !'  Why  are  women  to  be  thus  bred  up  with  a 
defire  of  conqueft  ?    the  very  epithet,  ufed  in  this  fenfe* 
gives  me  a  fickly  qualm!  Does  religion  and  virtue  offer 
no  ftronger  motives,  no  brighter  reward  ?  Muft  they  al 
ways  by  debafed  by  being  made  to  confider  the  fex  of 
their  companions?  Muft  they  be  taught  always  to  be 
pleafing  ?  And  when  levelling  their  fmall  artillery  at  the 
heart  of  man,  is  it  neceiTary  to  tell  them  that  a  little 
fenfe  is  fufficient  to  render  their  attention  incredibly footh-  . 
ing?  <  As  a  fu.ail  degree  of  knowledge  entertains  in  a 

'  v.  oman,    fo  from  a  woman,  though  for  a  different  rea- 
«  fon,  a  fmall  cx-refiion  of  kindnefs  dclights.pnrticularly  J 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN.  163 

•  if  {he  hive  beauty  !'   I  mould  have  fuppofed    for   the 
fam    reaf     . 

Why  are  girls  to  be  told,  that  they  refemble  angels, 
but  to  fink  them  below  women  ?  Or,  that  a  gentle,  in 
nocent  female  is  an  objeft  that  comes  nearer  to  the  idea 
which  we  have  formed  of  angels  than  any  other.  Yet 
they  are  told,  at  the  fame  time,  that  they  are  only  like 
angels  when  they  are  young  and  beautiful;  confe- 
quently,  it  is  their  peribns,  not  their  virtues,  that 
procure  tnem  this  homage. 

Idle,  empty  words !  what  can  fuch  delufive  flattery 
lead  to,  but  vanity  and  folly?  The  lover,  it  is  true,  has 
a  poetic  licence  to  exalt  his  miftrefs ;  his  reafon  is  the 
bubble  of  his  paffion,  and  he  does  not  utter  a  falfe- 
hood  when  he  borrows  the  language  of  adoration. 
His  imagination  may  raife  the  idol  of  his  heart,  un- 
blamed,  above  humanity;  and  happy  would  it  be  for 
women,  if  they  were  only  flattered  by  the  men  who  • 
loved  them;  I  mean,  who  love  the  individual,  net 
the  fex ;  but  mould  a  grave  preacher  interlard  his  dif- 
courfes  with  fuch  fooleries  ? 

In  fermons  or  novels,  however,  voluptuoufnefs  is 
always  true  to  its  text.  Men  are  allowed  by  moralifts 
to  cultivate,  as  Nature  direfts,  different  qualities,  and 
ailume  the  different  characters,  that  the  fame  paffions, 
modified  almofl  to  infinity,  give  to  each  individual.  A 
virtuous  man  may  have  a  choleric  or  fanguine  confUtu- 
tion,  be  gay  or  grave,  unreproved ;  be  firm  till  he  is 
almoft  overbearing,  or,  weakly  fubmiffive,  have  no  will 
or  opinion  of  his  own;  but  all  women  are  to  be  levelled. 


l6-|  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

by  meeknefs  and  docility,  into  one  character  of  yielding 
foftnefs  and  gentle  compliance. 

I  will  ufe  the  preacher's  own  words.  '  Let  it  be  ob- 
'  ferved,  that  in  your  fex  manly  exercifes  are  never 

*  graceful ;  that  in  them  a  tone  and  figure,  as  well  as 

*  an  air  and  deportment,  of  the  mafculine  kind,  are 
6  always  forbidding;  and  that  men  of  fenfibility  defire 
e  in  every  woman  foft  features,  and  a  flowing  voice,  a 
e  form  not  robuft,  and  demeanour  delicate  and  gentle.' 

Is  not  the  following  portrait — the  portrait  of  a  houfe 
Have  ?  '  I  am  aflonimed  at  the  folly  of  many  women, 
'  who  are  itill  reproaching  their  hulbands  for  leaving 

*  them  alone,  for  preferring  this  or  that  company  to 
'  theirs,  for  treating  them  with  this  and  the  other  mark 
'  of  difregard  or  indifference ;  when,  to  fpeak  the  truth, 

*  they  have  themfelves  in  a  great  meafure  to   blame. 
f  Not  that  I  would  juflify  the  men  in  any  thing  wrong 
'  on  their  part.  But  had  you  behaved  to  them  v/ith  more 

*  refpetfful  obfer~jance,  and  a  more  equal  lendernejs  ;  ftudj- 
'  ing  tueir  humours ,  overlooking  their  mtjlakes,  fubmiiting 

*  to  their  opinions  in  matters  indifferent,  pailing  by  Httle 

*  inihmces  of  unevennefs,  caprice,  or  paflion,  giving  foft 

*  aniwers  to   hafly   words,  complaining  as   feldom   as 

*  poifible,  and  making  it   your  daily   care  to  relieve 
«  tteir  anxieties,  and  prevent  their  wifr.es,  to  enliven 
'  the  hour  of  dulnefs,  and  call  up  the  ideas  of  felicity : 

*  had  you  parfued  this  condudl,  I  doubt  not  but  you 
«  would   have    maintained   and   even    increased    their 
'  efleem,  fo  far  as  to  have   fecured  every  degree   of 
'  influence  that  could  cond-ice  to  their  virtue,  or  your 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  165 

c  mutual  fatis£iction ;  and  your  houfe  might  at  this  day 
*  have  been  the  abode  of  domeftic  bliis.'  Such  a  wo 
man  ought  to  be  an  angel — or  me  is  an  afs — for  I  dif- 
cern  not  a  trace  of  the  human  character,  neither  rea- 
fon  nor  paflion  in  this  domeftic  drudge,  whofe  being  is 
abforbed  in  that  of  a  tyrant's. 

Still  Dr.  Fordyce  muft  have  very  little  acquaintance 
with  the  human  heart,  if  he  really  fuppoied,  that  fuch 
conduct  would  bring  back  wandering  love,  inftead  of 
exciting  contempt.  No,  beauty,  gentlenefs,  £c.  &c. 
may  gain  a  heart ;  but  efteem,  the  only  lalling  affection, 
can  alone  be  obtained  by  virtue  fupported  by  reafon. 
It  is  refpect  for  the  underftanding  that  keeps  alive  ten- 
dernefs  for  the  perlbn. 

As  theie  volumes  are  fo  frequently  put  into  the  hands 
of  young  people,  I  have  taken  more  notice  of  them 
than,  ftricily  ipeaking,  they  deferve ;  but  as  they  have 
contributed  to  vitiate  the  taite,  and  enervate  the  under- 
handing  of  many  of  my  fellow-creatures,  I  could  not 
'  pals  them  iilently  over. 

SECT.  III. 

SUCH  paternal  folicitude  pervades  Dr.  Gregory's 
Legacy  to  his  Daughters,  that  I  enter  on  the  talk  of 
cridcifm  with  affectionace  reipect;  but  as  this  little 
volume  has  many  attractions  to  recommend  it  to  the 
notice  of  the  moft  reipectabie  part  of  my  fex,  I  cannot 
ulently  pafs  over  arguments  that  fo  fpeoioully  fupport 
opinions  which,  I  think,  have  had  tue  moil  baneful 
'  effect  on  tiie  morals  and  manners  of  the  female  world. 


166  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

His  eafy  familiar  flyle  is  particularly  fuited  to  the 
tenor  c,f  his  advice,  and  the  melanci  oly  tendernefs 
which  his  refpect  for  the  memory  of  a  beloved  wife 
diffules  through  the  whole  work,  renders  it  very  in- 
terefting ;  yet  there  is  a  degree  of  concife  elegance 
confpicuous  in  many  paflages,  that  difturbs  this  fym- 
pathy;  and  we  pop  on  the  author,  when  we  only 
expected  to  meet  the — father. 

Befides,  having  two  objects  in  view,  he  feldom  ad 
hered  ileadily  to  either ;  for,  wifliing  to  make  his  daugh 
ters  amiable,  and  fearing  left  unhappinefs  mould  only 
be  the  confequcnce  of  inftilling  fentiments,  that  might 
draw  them  out  of  the  track  of  common  life,  without 
enabling  them  to  act  with  conionant  independence  and 
dignity,  he  checks  the  natural  flow  of  his  thoughts, 
and  neither  advifes  one  thing  nor  the  other. 

In  the  preface  he  tells  them  a  mournful  truth,  '  that 
they  will  hear,  at  leaft  once  in  their  lives,  the  genuine 
fentiments  of  a  man,  who  has  no  interelt  in  deceiving 
them.' 

Haplefs  woman !  what  can  be  expected  from  thee, 
when  the  beings  on  whom  thou  art  faid  naturally  to 
depend  for  reafon  and  fupport,  have  all  ;;n  intereft  in 
deceiving  thee !  This  is  the  root  of  the  evil  that  has 
Hied  a  corroding  mildew  on  all  thy  vir  ues ;  and  blight 
ing  in  the  bud  thy  opening  faculties,  has  rendered  thee 
the  weak  thing  thou  art !  It  is  this  feparate  interefl — 
this  infidious  Mate  of  warfare,  that  undermines  mo 
rality,  and  divides  mankind! 

If  love  have  made  feme  women  wretched — how  many 


RIGHTS   OF   WOMAN.  l6f 

more  has  the  cold  unmeaning  intercourfe  of  gallan 
try  rendered  vain  and  ufelefs  !  yet  this  heartlefs  atten 
tion  to  the  fex  is  reckoned  fo  manly,  fo  polite,  that 
till  fociety  is  very  differently  organized,  I  fear,  this 
veftige  of  gothic  manners  will  not  be  done  away  by  a 
more  reafonable  and  affectionate  mode  of  conduct. 
Befides,  to  flrip  it  of  its  imaginary  dignity,  I  muft  ob- 
ferve,  that  in  the  moil  civilized  European  ftates,  this 
lip-fervice  prevails  in  a  very  great  degree,  accompanied 
with  extreme  difiblutenefs  of  morals.  In  Portugal,  the 
country  that  I  particularly  allude  to,  it  takes  place  of 
the  molt  ferious  moral  obligations  j  for  a  man  is  feldom 
affaffinated  when  in  the  company  of  a  woman.  The  fa- 
vage  hand  of  rapine  is  unnerved  by  this  chivalrous 
fpirit ;  and,  if  the  ilroke  of  vengeance  cannot  be  frayed — 
the  lady  is  entreated  to  pardon  the  rudenefs,  and  depart 
in  peace,  though  fprinkled,  perhaps,  with  her  hufbani'e 
or  brother's  blood. 

I  mail  pafs  over  his  ftriftures  on  religon,  becaufe  I 
mean  to  difcufs  that  fubjecl  in  a  feparate     hapter. 

The  remarks  relative  to  behaviourf  though  many  of 
them  very  fenfible,  I  entirely  difapprove  of,  becaufe  it 
appears  to  me  to  be  beginning  as  it  were,  at  the  wrong 
end.  A  cultivated  underftanding,  and  an  affe&ionate 
heart,  will  never  want  ftarched  rules  of  decorum 
fomething  more  fubftantial  than  feemlinefs  will  be  the 
refult ;  and,  without  underftanding  the  behaviour  here 
recommended,  would  be  rank  affedation.  Decorum, 
indeed,  is  the  one  thing  needful  ! — decorum  is  to  fup- 
plant  nature,  and  banilh  all  fimplicity  ana  variety  of 


1 68  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

character  out  of  the  female  world.  Yet  what  good  end 
can  all  this  fuperficial  counfel  produce  ?  It  is,  however, 
much  eafier  to  point  out  this  or  that  mode  of  behaviour, 
than  to  fet  the  reafon  to  work  ;  but,  when  the  mind  has 
been  ilored  with  ufeful  knowledge,  and  ftrengthened  by 
being  employed,  the  regulation  of  the  behaviour  may 
fafely  be  left  to  its  guidance. 

Why,  for  inflance,  fhould  the  following  caution  be 
given,  when  art  of  every  kind  muft  contaminate  the 
mind ;  and  why  entangle  the  grand  motives  of  a&ion, 
which  reafon  and  religion  equally  combine  to  enforce, 
with  pitiful  worldly  fhifts  and  flight-of-hand  tricks  to 
gain  the  applaufe  of  gaping  taftelefs  fools  ?  '  Be  even 

*  cautious  in  difplaying  your  good  fenfe.*     It  will  be 
'  thought  you  aiTume  a  faperiority  over  the  reft  of  the 

*  company — But  if  you  happen  to  have  any  learning 

*  keep  it  a  profound  fecret,    efpecially  from  the  men, 

*  who  generally  look  with  a  jealous  and  malignant  eye 
'  on  a  woman  of  great  parts,  and  a  cultivated  under- 
'  (landing.'     If  men  of  real    merit,  as  he  afterwards 
obferves,  are  fuperior  to  this  meannefs,  where  is  the  ne- 
ceflity  that  the  behaviour  of  the  whole  fex  mould  be 
modulated  to  pleafe   fools,  or  men,  who  having  little 
claim  to  refpecl:  as  individuals,  choofe  to  keep  clofe  in 
their  phalanx.     Men,  indeed,  who  infill  on  their  com 
mon  fuperiority,  having  only  this  fexualfuperiority,  are 
certainly  very  excufable. 

There  would  be  no  end  to  rules  for  behaviour,  if  it 

*  Let  ii'omfn  once  acquire  good  fenfe — and  if  it  defervrs  the  natnit 
if  will  teach  thtm  ;  «r,  of  ivbat  life  ivill  if  bs  ?  how  to  employ  it. 


RIGHTS   OF  WOMAN.  169 

be  proper  always  to  adopt  the  tone  of  the  country  ;  for 
thus,  for  ever  varying  the  key,  a^/fof  would  often  pais 
for  a  natural  note. 

Surely  it  would  have  been  wifer  to  have  advifed 
women  to  improve  themfelves  till  they  rofe  above  the 
fumes  of  vanity  ;  and  then  to  let  the  public  opinion 
come  round— for  where  are  rules  of  accommodation  to 
flop  ?  The  narrow  path  of  truth  and  virtue  inclines 
neither  to  the  right  nor  left — it  is  a  ftraight-forward 
bufmefs,  and  they  who  are  earnestly  purfuing  their 
road,  may  bound  over  many  decorous  prejudices,  with- 
'out  leaving  modefty  behind.  Make  the  heart  clean, 
and  give  the  head  employment,  and  I  will  venture  to 
predict  that  their  will  be  nothing  offenlive  in  the  be 
haviour. 

The  air  of  fafhion,  which  many  young  people  are  fo 
eager  to  attain,  always  ftrikes  me  like  the  itudied  atti 
tudes  of  fome  modern  prints,  copied  with  taftelefs  fer- 
vility  after  the  antiques  j — the  foul  is  left  out,  and  none 
of  the  parts  are  tied  together  by  what  may  properly  be 
termed  character.  This  varniih  of  falhion,  which  fel- 
dom  iHcks  very  clofe  to  fenfe,  may  dazzle  the  ueak; 
•but  leave  nature  to  itfelf,  and  it  will  feldom  difguft  the 
wife.  Befides,  when  a  woman  has  fuih'cient  fenfe  not  to 
pretend  to  any  thing  which  (he  does  not  underftand  in 
fome  degree,  there  is  no  need  of  determin  ng  to  hide 
$er  talents  under  a  bufliel.  Let  things  take  their  natural 
coarfe,  and  all  will  be  well. 

It  is  this  fyftem  of  diiiimulation,  throughout  the  ro-> 
lume,  tnat  I  defpife*  Women  are  always  tv/tern  to  be 


170  VINDICATION   OF    THE 

this  and  that — yet  virtue  might  apoltrophize  them,  in 
the  words  of  Hamlet — Seems !  I  know  not  feems  !-— 
Have  that  within  that  pafleth  mow  ! — 

Still  th«;  fame  tone  occurs  ;  for  in  another  place, 
after  recommending,  without  fufficiently  difcriminating 
delicacy,  he  adds,  '  The  men  will  complain  of  your  re- 
'  ferve.  They  will  aflure  you  that  a  franker  behaviour ' 
(  would  make  you  more  amiable.  But,  truft  me,  they 
'  are  not  fincere  when  they  tell  you  fo.  I  acknowledge 
f  that  on  fome  occafions  it  might  render  you  more 

*  agreeable  as  companions,  but  it  would  make  you  lefs 
(  amiable  as  women :  an   important  diftinclion,  which 

*  many  of  your  fex  are  not  aware  of.' — 

This  defire  of  being  always  women,  is  the  very  con- 
fcioufnefs  that  degrades  the  fex.  Excepting  with  a  lover, 
I  muft  repeat  with  emphafis,  a  former  obfejrvation — 
it  vvould  be  well  if  they  were  only  agreeable  or  ra 
tional  companions.— -But  in  this  refped  his  advice  is 
even  inconiiitent  with  a  paflage  which  I  mean  to  quote 
with  the  moft  marked  approbation. 

'  The  fentiment,  that  a  woman  may  allow  all  inno- 
'  cent  freedoms,  provided  her  virtue  is  fecure,  is  both 
'  grofsly  indelicate  and  dangerous,  and  has  proved 
<  fatal  to  many  of  your  fex.'  With  this  opinion  I 
perfectly  coincide.  A  man,  or  a  woman,  of  any  feeling 
mull  always  wim  to  convince  a  beloved  object  that  it  is 
the  carefTes  of  the  individual,  not  the  fex,  that  is  re 
ceived  and  returned  with  pleafnre ;  and,  that  the  heart, 
rather  than  the  fenfes,  is  moved.  Without  this  natural 


RIGHTS-  OF    WOMAN.  171 

delicacy,  love  becomes   a  felnlh  pericnal  gratification 
that  foon  degrades  the  character. 

I  carry  this  fentiment  ftill  further.  Affection,  when 
love  is  out  of  the  queftion,  authorities  many  perfonal  en 
dearments,  that  naturally  flowing  from  an  innocent 
heart  give  life  to  the  behaviour  ;  but  the  perfonal  in- 
tercourfe  of  appetite,  gallantry,  or  vanity,  is  de.pi- 
cabie.  When  a  man  fqueezes  the  hand  of  a  pretty 
woman,  handing  her  to  a  carriage,  whom  lie  has  never 
feen  before,-  ihe  will  confider  fuch  an  impertinent  free 
dom  in  the  light  of  an  infult,  if  Ihe  have  any  true  de 
licacy,  initead  of  beim*  flattered  by  this  unmcanirg 
homage  to  beaucy.  Thefe  are  the  privileges  of  friencl- 
fhip,  or  the  momentary  homage  which  the  heart  pays  to 
virtue,  when  it  dailies  fuddenly  on  the  notice — mere  ani- 
pirit|  have  no  claim  to  the  kindneiTes  of  affection. 

Wiilung  to  feed  the  affections  with  what  is  now  the 
food  of  vanity,  I  would  fain  perfuade  my  lex  to  act 
iiinpler  principles.  Let  them  merit  love,  and 
they  will  obtain  it,  though  they  may  never  be  told  that  : 
'.The  power  of  a  fine  woman  over  the  hearts  of  ircn, 
'  of  men  of  the  finefh  parts,  is  even  beyond  what 
f  ccnceives.' 

I  have  already  noticed  the  narrow  cautions  with  re- 
fpecl  to  duplicity,  female  foftiiefs,  delicacy  of  conilitu- 
don  ;  tor  thefe  are  the  changes  which  he  rings  round 
without  ceufmgs — in  a  more  decorous  manner,  it  is  true, 
than  Roufibiiu  -,  but  it  all  comes  home  to  the  fame 
point,  and  whoever  is  at  the  trouble  to  analyze  thefe 


1/2  V INDICATION    OF    THE 

fehtiir.ents,  will  find  thefirft  principles  not  quite  fo  deli 
cate  as  the  fuperftruclure. 

The  fubjsct  of  amufements  is  treated  in  too  curfory 
a  manner  ;  but  with  the  fame  fpirit. 

When  I  treat  of  friendfhip,  love,  and  marriage,  it 
will  be  found  that  we  materially  differ  in  opinion  ;  I 
ihall  not  then  foreftdl  what  I  have  to  obferve  on  thcfe 
important  ftibjcils  ;  but  confine  my  remarks  to  the  ge 
neral  tenor  of  them,  to  that  cautious  family  prudence, 
to  thofe  confined  views  of  partial  unenlightened  affec 
tion,  which  exclude  pleafure  and  improvement,  by  vainly 
wiihing  to  ward  off  forrow  and  error — and  by  thus  guard 
ing  the  heart  and  -mind,  deftroy  alfo  all  their  energy. 
It  is  far  better  to  be  often  deceived  than  never  to  trufl ; 
to  be  difappointed  in  love,  than  never  to  love  ;  to  lofe 
a  hn  {band's  fondnefs,  than  forfeit  his  efteem. 

Happy  would  it  be  for  the  world,  and  for  individuals, 
of  courfe,  if  all  this  unavailing  folicitude  to  attain 
worldly  happinefs,  on  a  confined  plan,  were  turned  into 
an  anxious  defire  to  improve  the  under  flan  ding. — '  Wif- 
'  dom  is  the  principal  thing ;  therefore  get  wifdorn ;  and 
*  with  ail  thy  gettings  getunderftanding.' — *  How  long 
'  ye  fun  pie  ones,  will  ye  love  fimplicity,  and  hate  know- 
«  ledge  ;'  Saith  Wifdorn  to  the  daughters  of  men  ! 

SECT.  IV. 

I  DO  not  mean  to  allude  to  all  the  writers  who  have 
written  on  the  fubjeft  of  female  manners — it  would  it 
fact,  be  only  beating  over  the  old  groiunr,  for  they 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  173 

have,  ill  general,  written  in  the  lame  ftrain  ;  but  attack 
ing  the  boafted  prerogative  of  man — the  prerogative 
that  may  emphatically  be  called  the  iron  fceptre  of  ty 
ranny,  the  original  fin  of  tyrants,  I  declare  againft  all 
power  built  on  prejudices,  however  hoary. 

If  the  fubmiffion  demanded  be   founded  on  juftice — 
there  is  no  appealing  to  a  higher  power — for  God  is  Juf 
tice  itfelf.     Let  us  then,  as  children  o£  the  fame  parent, 
if  not  baflardized   by  being  the  younger  born,  reafon 
together,  and  learn  to  fubmit  to  the  authority  of  reafon 
when  her  voice  is  diftin&Iy  heard.     But,  if  it  be  proved 
tint  this  tkrone  of  prerogative    only  rcfls  on  a  c  ; 
mafs  of  prejudices,  that  hive  no  inherent  prin 
order  to  keep  them  together,   or  on  an   elephant,   tor- 
toifc,  or  even    the  mighty  moulders  of  a  fen  of  the 
earth,  they  may  efcape,   who    dare  to  brave  the  confe- 
quence    without   any  breach  of  duty,  without  finning 
againft  the  order  of  things. 

Whilit  reafon  raifes  man  above  the  brutal  herd,  and 
death  is  big  with  promifes,  they  alone  are  fubjecl:  to 
blind  authority  who  have  no  reliance  on  their  own 
flrength.  f  They  are  free  who  will  be  free  !*' — 

The  being  who  can  govern  itfelf,  has  nothing  to  fear 
in  life  ;  but  if  any  thing  is  dearer  than  its  own  refpecl, 
the  price  mure  be  paid  to  the  laft  farthing.  Virtue,  like 
every  thing  valuable,  muft  be  loved  for  herfelf  alone  ; 
or  (lie  will  not  take  up  her  abode  with  us.  She  will 
not  impart  that  peace,  '  which  pafTeth  under/landing,' 

*   '  Hs  is  the  free  man  ivlom  tl?e  truth  makes  free.'' 

Cowper. 


*?4  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

when  flic  is  merely  made  the  ftilts  of  reputation  and  re- 
fpe-fled  'with  pharifuical  exadnefs,  became  '  honefty  is 
the  beft  policy/ 

That  the  plan  of  life  which  enables  i:s  to  carry  fome 
knowledge  and  virtue  into  another  world,  is  the  one 
belr  calculated  to  ei^u.e  content  in  this,  cannot  be  de 
nied  ;  yet  few  people  aft  according  to  this  principle, 
though  it  be  univerfally  allowed  that  it  admit  not  of 
difpute.  Prefent  pleafure,  or  prefent  power,  carry  be 
fore  it  thefe  fober  convictions ;  and  it  is  for  the  day,  not 
for  life,  that  man  bargains  with  happinefs.  How  few ! 
how  very  few  !  have  fufEcient  forelight  or  refolution, 
to  endure  a  fmall  evil  at  the  moment,  to  avoid  a  greater 
hereafter. 

Woman  in  particular,  whofe  virtue  *  is  built  on  mu- 
tuaji  prejudces,  feldom  attains  to  this  greatnefs  of 
mind  ;  fo  that,  becoming  the  flave  of  her  own  feelings, 
ihe  is  eailly  fubjugated  by  tliofe  of  others.  Thus  de 
graded,  her  reafon,  her  ijuifty  reafon  !  is  employed  ra 
ther  to  burnilh  than  to  fnap  her  chains. 

Indignantly  have  I  heard  women  argue  in  the  fame 
track  as  men,  and  adopt  the  fentiments  that  brutalize 
them  with  all  the  pertinacity  of  ignorance. 

I  mufl  illuftrate  my  afiertion  by  a  few  examples. 
Mrs.  Piozzi,  who  often  repeated  by  rote,  what  ihe  did 
not  underfland,  comes  forward  with  Johnfonian  periods. 

'  Seek  not  for  happinefs  in  fingularity  ;  and  dread  a 
'  refinement  of  wifdom  as  a  deviation  into  folly.' 

*   /  mean  to    ifje  a  ivcrd  that   cotnfrjjcndi   mere  iijan   clajlity  the 

i.v.';.;/  virtue. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  175 

Thus  (he  dogmatically  addreffcs  a  new  married  man  ; 
and  to  elucidate  this  pompous  exordium,  me  adds,  '  I 

'  faid  that  the  perfon  of  your  lady  would  not  grow  rr.ora 

'  pleafing  to  you,  but  pray  never  let  her  fufpect  that  it 

f  grows  lefs  fo  :  that  a  woman  will  pardon  an  affront  to 

'  her  underftanding  much  fooner  than  one  to  her  perfbn, 

*  is  well  known,  nor  will  any  of  us  contradict  the  afier- 
'  tion.      All  our   attainments,    all   our   arts,    are    em- 

*  ployed  to  gain  and  keep  the  heart  of  man;  and  what 
'  mortification  can   exceed  the   difappointment,  if  the 
'  end  be  not  obtained  :    There  is  no  reproof  however 
'  pointed,  no  puniihment  however  fevere,  that  a  woman 
'  of  fpirit  will  not  prefer  to  neglect  ;  and  if  ill e  can  en- 
'  dure  it   without  complaint,  it   only   proves    that  me 
«  means    to    make  herfelf  amends  by  the    attention  of 
'  others  for  the  flights  of  her  hufband  !' 

Thefe  are  true  mafculine  fentiments, — c  All  our  arts 
'  are  employed  to  gain  and  keep  the  heart  of  man: — 
and  what  is  the  inference  ? — if  her  perfcn,  and  was 
there  ever  a  perfon,  though  formed  with  Medicifan 
fymmetry,  that  was  not  flighted  ?  be  neglected,  me 
will  make  herfelf  amends  by  endeavouring  to  pleafe 
other  men.  Noble  morality  !  But  thus  is  the  under- 
flanding  of  the  whole  fex  affronted,  and  iheir  virtue 
deprived  of  the  common  bafis  of  vircue.  A  woman  muft 
know,  that  her  perfon  cannot  be  as  pleafmg  to  her  huf 
band  as  it  was  to  her  lover,  and  if  me  be  offended  with 
him  for  being  a  human  creature,  {he  may  as  well  whine 
about  the  lofs  of  his  heart  as  about  any  other  fooiifh 
thing. — And  this  very  want  of  difcernment  or  unrea- 

cu 


176  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

fonable  anger,  proves  that  he  could  not  change  his 
fondnefs  for  her  perfon  into  affection  for  her  virtues,  or 
refpect  for  her  underftandlng. 

Whili):  women  avow,  and  act  up  to  fuch  opinions, 
their  underitandings,  at  leafl,  deferve  the  contempt  and 
obloquy  that  men,  «i;-/'o  never  infult  their  perfons,  have 
pointedly  levelled  at  the  female  mind.  And  it  is  the 
fentiments  of  thefe  polite  men,  who  do  not  wifli  to  be 
encumbered  with  mind,  that  vain  women  thoughdefsly 
adopt.  Yet  they  fhould  <know,  that  infulted  reaibn 
alone  can  fpread  \.\vi\.  facred  referve  about  the  perfons 
which  renders  human  affections,  for  human  affections 
have  always  fome  ba'fe  alloy,  as  permanent  as  is  con- 
ilflent  with  the  grand  end  of  exiilence — the  attainment 
of  virtue. 

The  Baronefs  de  Stael  fpeaks  the  fame  language  as 
the  lady  jufl  cited,  with  more  enthufiafm.  Her  eulo- 
gium  on  RouiTeau  \vas  accidentally  put  into  my  hands, 
and  her  fentiments,  the  fentiments  of  too  many  of  my 
fex,  may  ferve  as  the  text  fora  few  comments.  *  Though 
'  RoufTeau,'  me  obferves,  '  has  endeavoured  to  prevent 
'  women  from  interfering  in  public  affairs,  and  acting  a 
'brilliant  part  in  the  theatre  of  polities ;  yet,  in  fpeak- 
'  ing  of  them,  how  much  has  he  done  it  to  their  fatis- 
«  faction  !  If  he  wifned  to  deprive  them  of  fome  rights, 
'  foreign  to  their  fex,  how  has  he  forever  reftored  to 
'  them  all  thofe  to  which  it  has  a  claim  !  And  in  at- 
'  tempting  to  diminim  their  influence  over  the  delibc- 
'  rations  of  men,  how  facredly  has  he  eftablifhed  the 
s  empire  they  have  over  their  happinefs  I  In  aiding 


•  R.IGH1.    OF    WOMAN.  177* 

*  them  to  defcend  from  an  ufurped  throne,  he  has  firmly 
'  feated  them  upon  that  to  which  they  were  deftinedrby 
'  nature;  and  though  he  be  full  of  indignation  againft 
'  them  when  they  endeavour  to  refemble  men,  yet  when 

<  they  come  before  him  with  all  the  charms,  taeaknej/ss, 

<  virtues,  and  errors,  of  their   fex,  his  refpedl  for  their 
'  perfons  amounts    almoit  to   adoration.'     True  ! — For 
never  was  there  a  fenlualift   who  paid  more  fervent  ado 
ration  at  the  ftirine  of  beauty.     So  devout,  indeed,  was 
his  refpe6l  for  the  perfon,  that  excepting  the  virtue  of 
challity,   for  obvious   reafons,  he  only  wifned  to  fee  it 
embellimed  by   charms,  'weakneffes,    and    errors.     He 
was  afraid  left  the  auilerity  of  reafon  mould  difturb  the 
foft  playfulnefs  of  love.     The  mafcer  wifhed  to  have  a 
meretricious  flave  to  fondle,  entirely  dependent  on  his 
reafon  and  bounty  ;  he  did  not  want  a  companion,  whom 
he  mould  be  compelled  to  efleem,    or  a  friend  to  whom 
he  could  confide  the  care   of  his  children's  education, 
mould  death  deprive  them  of  their  father,  before  he  had 
fulfilled  the  facred  talk.     He  denies  woman  reafon,  muts 
her  out  from  knowledge,  and  turns  her  afide  from  truth; 
yet  his  pardon  is  granted,  becaufe  '  he  admits  the  paf- 
fion  of  love.'    It  would  require  fome  ingenuity  to  mow 
why  women  were  to  be  under  fuch  an  obligation  to  him 
for  thus  admitting  love  ;  'when  it  is  clear  that  he  admits 
it  only  for  the  relaxation  of  men,  and  to  perpetuate  the 
fpecies ;  but  he  talked  with  paffion,  and  that  powerful 
fpell   worked  on  the  fenfibility  of  a  young  encomhft. 
'  What  fignifies  it,'  purfues  this  rhapfodiit.  '  to  women, 
f  that  his  reafon  difputes  with  them  the  empire,  whes 


1*3  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

*  his  heart  is  devotediy  theirs.'  It  is  not  empire — but 
equality,  that  they  fliould  contend  for.  Yet,  if  they  only 
wiihed  to  lengthen  out  their  Sway,  th-y  fhoukl  not  entirely 
truft  to  their  perfons,  for  though  beauty  may  gain  a 
heart,  it  cannot  keep  it,  even  wnile  the  beauty  is  in 
full  bloom,  unlefs  the  mind  knd,  at  ie^ft,  fome  graces. 

When  women  are  once  iaii:cien:ly  enlightened  to 
difcover  their  real  intereit,  on  -a  grand  fcale,  they  will, 
I  am  perfuaded,  be  very  ready  to  refign  all  the  prero 
gatives  of  love,  that  are  not  mutual,  fpeaking  of  them  as 
lading  prerogatives,  for  the  calm  fatisfadion  of  friend, 
fliip,  and  the  tender  confidence  of  habitual  efteem.  Be 
fore  marriage  they  will  not  aiTume  any  infolent  airs, 
nor  afterwards  abjedly  fubmit ;  but,  endeavouring  to 
aft  like  reafonable  creatures,  in  both  fituations,  they 
will  not  be  tumbled  from  a  throne  to  a  flool. 

Madame  Genlis  has  written  feveral  entertaining 
books  for  children;  and  her  Letters  on  Education 
afford  many  ufeful  hints,  that  fenfible  parents  will  cer 
tainly  avail  themfelves  of;  but  her  views  are  narrow, 
and  ner  prejudices  as  unreafonable  as  ftrong. 

I  (hall  pals  over  her  vehement  argument  in  favour  of 

;  the  eternity  of  future  punimments,  because  I  blufh    to 

think  that  a  human  being  mould  ever  argue  vehemently 

in  luch  a  caufe,  and  only  make  a  few  remarks  on  her 

abfurd  manner  of  making   the  parental  authority,  fup- 

plant  reafon.     For  every  where  does  me  inculcate  not 

,  only  blind  fubmiffion  to  parents,  but  to  the  opinion  of 

•.  the  world.* 

*  A  perfon  it  not  te  afl  in  tins  or  thai  way,  though  convinced  t!>cy 
an  right  *n  fo  do^ng,  keeaufe  fotnt  eyuivwel  (ireumjlanets  may  had  tbe 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  179 

She  tells  a  ftory  of  a  young  man  engaged  by  his 
father's  exprefs  defire  to  a  girl  of  fortune.  Before  the 
marriage  could  take  place,  flie  is  deprived  of  her  for 
tune,  and  thrown  friendlefs  on  the  world.  The  father 
pradtifes  the  moil  infamous  arts  to  feparate  his  foil  from 
her,  and  when  the  fon  detects  his  villany,  and,  follow 
ing  the  dictates  of  honour,  marries  the  girl,  nothing 
but  mifery  enfues,  becaufe  forfooth  he  married  without 
his  father's  confent.  On  what  ground  can  religion  or 
morality  reft,  when  juilice  is  thus  fet  at  defiance  ?  In 
the  fame  ftyle  me  reprefcnts  an  accomplimed  young 
woman,  as  ready  to  marry  any  body  that  her  mamma 
pleafed  to  recommend ;  and,  as  actually  marrying  the 
young  man  of  her  own  choice,  without  feeling  any 
emotions  of  paflion,  becaufe  that  a  well-educated  girl 
had  not  time  to  be  in  lovj.  Is  it  poflible  to  have 
much  refpect  for  a  fyftem  of  education  that  thus  infults 
reafon  and  nature? 

Many  fimilar  opinions  occur  in  her  writings,  mixed 
with  fentiments  that  do  honour  to  her  head  and  heart. 
Yet  fo  much  fuperftition  is  mixed  with  her  religion, 
and  fo  much  worldly  wifdom  with  her  morality,  that  I 
fnould  not  let  a  young  perfon  read  her  works,  unlefs 
I  could  afterwards  converfe  on  the  fubjects,  and  point 
out  the  contradictions. 

•world  to  fufpciTt  that  t.'j.-y  afled  from  different  motives. —  This  is  facri- 
Jtfinrr  the  htbjlance  for  a  ftadoiv.  Let  people  but  watch  their  own 
hearts,  and  aci  r/gf.'/y  as  fur  as  they  can  judge,  and  they  may  pa 
tiently  wait  till  tit:  opinion  vf  tie  world  comes  round.  It  is  bejl 
to  l>e  directed  by  a  Jftaph  motive — -for  jiip.ice  has  too  often  been  Jlicriftcsd 
"  impropriety ; —  .nothcr  %v?rd  for  convenience. 


l8o  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

Mrs.  Chapone's  Letters  are  written  with  fuch  good 
fenfe,  and  unaffecled  humility,  and  contain  fo  many 
ufeful  obfervations,  that  I  only  mention  them  to  pay 
the  worthy  writer  this  tribute  of  refpeft.  I  cannot,  '•• 
it  is  true,  always  coincide  in  opinion  with  her,  but  I 
always  refpecl  her. 

The  very  word  refpe£l  brings  Mrs.  Macaulay  to  my 
remembrance.  The  woman  of  the  greateft  abilities, 
undoubtedly,  that  this  country  has  ever  produced.— 
And  yet  this  woman  has  been  fuffered  to  die  without 
fufiicient  refpedl  being  paid  to  her  memory. 

Poiterity,  however,  will  be  more  juft;  and  remem 
ber,  that  Catharine  Macaulay  was  an  example  of  intel 
lectual  acquirements  fuppofed  to  be  incompatible  with 
the  weaknefs  of  her  fex.  In  her  ftyle  of  writing,  in 
deed,  no  fex  appears,  for  it  is  like  the  fenfe  it  con 
veys,  llrong  and  clear. 

I  will  not  call  her's  a  mafculine  underftanding,  be- 
caufe  I  admit  not  of  fuch  an  arrogant  affumption  of 
reafon;  but  I  contend  that  it  was  a  found  one,  and 
that  her  judgment,  the  matured  fruit  of  profound  think 
ing,  was  a  proof  that  a  woman  can  acquire  judgment, 
in  the  full  extent  of  the  word.  Poffeiring  more  pene 
tration  than  fagacity,  more  underftanding  than  fancy, 
Ihe  writes  with  fober  energy,  and  argumentative  clofe- 
nefs ;  yet  fympathy  and  benevolence  give  an  interelt  to 
her  fcntiments,  and  that  vital  heat  to  arguments,  which 
forces  the  reader  to  weigh  them.* 

*  Coinciding  in  ap'n'on  ivit'3  JVlrs-  Macaulny  relative  to  many 
branches  of  education,  I  refer  t>j  her  valuable  iuorkt  injlead  oj  quoting 
btrjii.t.ments  to  fu^^ort  my  OIVH* 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  l8l 

When  I  firft  thought  of  writing  thefe  ftriclures  I  an 
ticipated  Mrs.  JVLcaulay's  approbation  with  a  little  of 
that  (anguine  ardour  which  it  has  been  the  buiinefs  of 
my  life  to  deprefs  ;  but  foon  heard  with  the  fickly  qualm 
of  difappointed  hope,  and  the  ftill  ferioumefs  of  regret 
•—that  Ihe  was  no  more  ! 

SECT.  V. 

TAKING  a  view  of  the  different  works  which  have 
been  written  on  education,  Lord  Chelterfield's  Letters 
muft  not  be  filently  paffed  over.  Not  that  I  mean  to 
analyze  his  unmanly,  immoral  fyftem,  or  even  to  cull 
any  of  the  ufeful  (hrewd  remarks  which  occur  in  his  fri 
volous  corrcfpondence — No,  I  only  mean  to  make  a 
few  reflections  on  the  avowed  tendency  of  them — the 
art  of  acquiring  an  early  knowledge  of  the  world.  An 
art,  I  will  venture  to  affert,  that  preys  fecretlyjike  the 
worm  in  the  bud,  on  the  expanding  powers,  and  turns 
to  poifon  the  generous  juices  which  mould  mount  with 
vigour  in  the  youthful  frame,  inipiring  warm  affections 
and  great  refolves.* 

For  every  thing,  faith  the  wife  man,  there  is  reafon ; 
— -and  who  would  look  for  the  fruits  of  autumn  during 
the  genial  months  of fp ring?  But  this  is  mere  declarna- 

*  Tfjat  children  ought  to  be  conftatrtly  giuirded  a&ainft  the  iiiees  and 
follies  of  the  ivorld,  appeals  to  ma,  a  i>ery  tniflaken  opinion  ;  fur  in  th: 
courfe  of  my  experience,  and  my  eyes  have  looked  abroad*  I  never  knew 
a  youth  educated  in  this  manner  t  ivho  had  early  imbibed  thefe  chilling 
fufylcicns,  and  repeated  by  rote  the  hejttating  if  of  age t  that  did  not 
prove  afelfij*  character* 


l82  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

tlon,  and  I  mean  to  reafon  with  thofe  worldly-wife  in- 
flructors,  who,  inftead  of  cultivating  the  judgment,  inilil 
prejudices,  and  render  hard  the  heart  that  gradual  expe 
rience  would  only  n.tve  cooled.  An  early  acquaintance 
with  humiin  infirmities ;  or,  what  is  termed  knowledge 
of  the  world,  is  the  fureft  way,  in  my  opinion,  to  con- 
ti.  6;  the  heart  and  damp  the  natural  youthful  ardour 
which  produces  not  .only  great  talents,  but  great  virtues. 
For  the  vain  attempt  to  bring  forth  the  fruit  of  experi 
ence, /before  the  fapling  has  thrown  out  its  leaves,  only 
exhaufls  its  ftrength,  and  prevents  its  affuming  a  natural 
form;  juft  as  the  form  and  ftrength  of  fubfiding  metals 
are  injured  when  the  attraction  of  cohefionisdifturbed. 
Tell  me,  ye  who  have  ftudied  the  human  mind,  is  it 
not  a  ftrange  way  to  fix  principles  by  mowing  young 
people  that  they  are  feldom  liable  ?  And  how  can  they  be 
fortified  by  habits  when  they  are  proved  to  be  fallacious 
by  example  ?  Why  is  the  ardour  of  youth  thus  to  be 
damped,  and  the  luxuriancy  of  fancy  cut  to  the  quick  ? 
This  dry  caution  may,  it  is  true,  guard  a  character  from 
worldly  mifchances  ;  but  will  infallibly  preclude  ex 
cellence  in  either  virtue  or  knowledge.*  The  ftumbling- 
block  thrown  acrofs  every  path  by  fufpicion,  will  pre 
vent  any  vigorous  exertions  of  genius  or  benevolence, 
and  life  will  be  ftripped  of  its  moft  alluring  charm  long 
before  its  calm  evening,  when  man  fhould  retire  to  con 
templation  for  comfort  and  fupport. 

*  I  have  already  dfi-rved,  that  an  early  ta&u>teitfge  of  the  ivorld, 
obtained  in  a  natural  way,  by  mixing  in  the  world,  has  the  fame  ejfcft  : 
inji  anting  officers  and  women. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  183 

A  young  man  who  has  been  bred  up  with  domeftic 
friends,  and  led  to  {lore  his  mind  with  as  much  fpecu- 
lative  knowledge  as  can  be  acquired  by  reading  and  the 
natural  reflections  which  youthful  ebullitions  of  animal 
fpirits  and  infiinctJve  feelings  infpire,  will  enter  the 
world  with  warm  and  erroneous  expectations.  But  this 
appears  to  be  the  courfe  of  nature ;  and-  in  morals,  as 
well  as  in  works  of  tafte,  we  mould  be  obfervant  of  her 
facrcd  indications,  and  not  prefume  to  lead  when  we 
ought  obfequioufly  to  follow. 

In  the  world  few  people  act  from  principle  ;  prefent 
feelings,  and  early  habits,  are  the  grand  fprings  :  but 
hew  would  the  former  be  deadened,  and  the  latter  ren 
dered  iron  corroding  fetters,  if  the  world  were  mown  to 
young  people  juft  as  it  is  ;  when  no  knowledge  of  man 
kind  or  their  ewn  hearts,  flowly  obtained  by  experience 
rendered  them  forbearing  ?  Their  fellow  creatures 
would  not  then  be  viewed  as  frail  beings ;  like  them- 
felves,  condemned  to  ftruggle  with  human  infirmities., 
and  fometimes  difplaying  the  light  and  fometimes  the 
dark  fide  of  their  character  ;  extorting  alternate  feel 
ings  of  love  and  difguft  ;  but  guarded  againft  as  beaih 
of  prey,  till  every  enlarged  focial  feeling,  in  a  word — 
humanity  was  eradicated. 

In  life,  on  the  contrary,  as  we  gradually  difcover 
the  imperfections  of  our  nature,  we  difcover  virtues, 
and  various  circumftances  attach  us  to  our  fellow  crea 
tures,  when  we  mix  with  them,  and  view  the  fame  ob 
jects,  that  are  never  thought  of  in  acquiring  a  hafty 
unnatural  knowledge  of  the  world.  We  fee  a  folly 
R 


184  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

{well  into  a  vice,  by  almoft  imperceptible  degrees,  and 
pity  while  we  blame;  but,  if  the  hideous  monfter  burft 
fuddenly  on  our  fight,  fear  and  difgufc  rendering  us 
more  fevere  than  man  ought  to  be,  might  lead  us  with 
blind  zeal  to  urarp  the  character  of  omnipotence,  and 
denounce  damnation  on  our  fellow  mortals,  forgetting 
that  we  cannot  read  the  heart,  and  that  we  have  feeds 
of  the  fame  vices  lurking  in  our  own. 

I  have  already  remarked ,  that  we  expect  more  from 
inftruftion,  than  mere  inflruflion  can  produce :  for,  in- 
ilead  of  preparing  young  people  to  encounter  the  evils 
of  life  with  dignity,  and  to  acquire  wifdom  and  virtue 
by  the  exercife  of  their  own  faculties,  precepts  are 
heaped  upon  precepts,  and  blind  obedience  required, 
when  conviction  mould  be  brought  home  to  reafon* 

Suppofe,  for  inftance,  that  a  young  perfon  in  the  fo ft 
ardour  of  friendfhip  deifies  the  beloved  objeft — what 
harm  can  arife  from  this  mifiaken  enthufiaftic  attach 
ment  r  Perhaps  it  is  neceffary  for  virtue  firft  to  appear 
in  a  human  form  to  imprefs  youthful  hearts  ;  the  ideal 
model,  which  a  more  matured  and  exalted  mind  looks 
up  to.,  and  Ihapes  for  itfelf,  would  elude  their  fight. 
He  who  loves  not  his  brother  whom  he  hath  feen,  how 
can  he  love  God  ?  afked  the  wifeft  of  men. 

It  is  natural  for  youth  to  adorn  the  firft  objedt  of  its 
affedipn  with  every  good  quality,  and  the  emulation 
produced  by  ignorance,  or,  to  fpeak  with  more  propri 
ety,  by  inexperience,  brings  forward  the  mind  capable 
•»#f'  6f*forming  fuch  an  afTe&ion,  "and,,  when,  in  the  lapfe  of 
time  perfection  is  found  not  to  be  within  the  reach  of 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  185 

mortals,  virtue,  abftraftedly,  is  thought  beautiful,  and 
wifdom  fublime.  Admiration  then  give.s  place  to  fricnd- 
fhip,  properly  To  called,  becaufe  it  is  cemented  by  efteem  ; 
and  the  being  walks  alone  only  dependent  on  heaven  for 
that  emulous  panting  after  perfection  which  ever  glow 5 
in  a  noble  mind.  But  this  knowledge  a  man  mull  gain 
by  the  exertion  of  his  own  faculties  ;  arid  this  is  furely 
the  blefled  fruit  of  difappointed  hope!  for  He  who  de- 
lighteth  to  diffufe  happinefs  and  fhew  mercy  to  the 
weak  creatures,  who  are  learning  to  know  him,  never 
implanted  a  good  propenfity  to  be  a  tormenting  ignis 
fatuus. 

Our  trees  are  now  allowed  to  fprcad  with  wild  luxuri 
ance,  nor  do  we  expect  by  force  to  combine  the  majeilic 
marks  of  time  with  youthful  graces  ;  but  wait  patiently 
till  they  have  fcruck  deep  their  root,  aud  braved  many  a 
dorm. — Is  the  mind  then,  which,  in  proportion  to  its 
dignity  advances  more  flowly  towards  perfection,  to  be 
treated  with  lefs  refpect  ?  To  argue  from  analogy,  every 
thing  around  us  is  in  a  progreffive  ftate  ;  and  when 
an  unwelcome  knowledge  of  life  produces  alrnoft  a  fa- 
tiety  of  life,  and  we  difcover  by  the  natural  courfe  of 
things  that  all  that  is  done  under  the  fun  is  vanity,  we 
are  drawing  near  the  awful  clofe  of  the  drama.  The 
days  of  activity  and  hope  are  over,  arid  the  opportunities 
which  the  firit  ftage  of  exiftence  has  afforded  of  advanc 
ing  in  the  fcale  of  intelligence,  muft  foon  be  fummed ' 
up. — A  knowledge  at  this  period  of  the  futility  of  life, 
or  earlier,  if  obtained  by  experience,  is  very  ufeful,  be 
caufe  it  is  natural ;  but  when  a  frail  being  is  fliewn  the 
Rz 


l86  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

follies  and  vices  of  man,  that  he  may  be  taught  pru 
dently  to  guard  againft  the  common  casualties  of  life  by 
facrificing  his  heart — furely  it  is  not  fpeaking  harlhly 
to  call  it  the  wifdom  of  this  world,  con-trafled  with  the 
nobler  fruit  of  piety  and  experience. 

I  will  venture  a  paradox,  and  deliver  my  opinion  with 
out  referve ;  if  men  were  only  born  to  form  a  circle  of 
life  and  death,  it  would  be  wife  to  take  every  Hep  that 
forefight  could  fuggeft  to  render  life  happy.  Modera 
tion  in  every  purfuit  would  then  be  fupreme  wifdom  ; 
and  the  prudent  voluptuary  might  enjoy  a  degree  of 
Content,  though  he  neither  cultivated  his  underftanding 
nor  kept  his  heart  pure.  Prudence,  fuppofmg  we  were 
mortal,  would  be  true  wifdom,  or,  to  be  more  explicit, 
would  procure  the  greater!  portion  of  happinefs,  con- 
fidering  the  whole  of  life,  but  knowledge  beyond  the 
conveniences  of  life  would  be  a  curfe. 

Why  mould  we  injure  our  health  by  clofe  fludy  ? 
The  exalted  pleafure  which  intellectual  purfuits  aiford 
would  fcarcely  be  equivalent  to  the  hours  of  langour  that 
follow ;  efpecially,  if  it  be  neceilary  to  take  into  the 
reckoning  the  doubts  and  difappointments  that  cloud  our 
refeiirches.  Vanity  and  vexation  clofe  every  inquiry  : 
for  the  cnuie  which  we  particularly  wifhed  to  difcover 
i::?s  like  the  horizon  beforft  us  as  we  advance.  The  ig 
norant,  en  the  contrary,  refemble  children^  and  fuppofe, 
that  if  :hey  could  walk  Itraight  forward,  they  fhouid  at 
laft  arrive  were  the  earth  and  clouds  meet.  Yet,  dif- 
appointed  as  we  are  in  our  refearches ,  the  mind  gains 
ftrength  by  the  exercife,  fufficient,  perhaps,  to  compre- 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN.  187 

hend  the  anfwers  which,  in  another  ftep  of  exiftence,  it 
may  receive  to  the  anxious  queftions  it  afkcd,  when  the 
underftanding  w  th  feeble  wing  was  fluttering  round  the 
vifible  effects  to  dive  into  th->  hidden  caufe. 

The  paflions  alfo,  the  winds  of  life,  would  be  ufelefs, 
if  not  injurious,  did  ihe  iubilance  which  composes  our 
thinking  being,  after  we  have  thought  in  vain,  only  be 
come  the  fupport  of  vegetable  lite,  and  invigorate  a  cab 
bage,  or  blufh  in  a  rofe.  The  appetites  would  anfvver 
every  earthly  purpofe,  and  produce  more  moderate  and 
permanent  happinefs.  But  the  powers  of  the  foul  that 
are  of  little  ufe  here,  and,  probably,  difturb  our  anim:ii 
enjoyments,  even  while  confcious  dignity  makes  us  glo 
ry  in  poffeffing  them,  prove  that  life  is  merely  an  educa- 
tion,  a  ftate  of  infancy,  of  which  the  only  hones  worvh 
cheriming  fnould  not  be  facrificed.  I  mean,  therefor3, 
to  infer,  that  we  ought  to  have  a  precifeidea  of  what  wo 
wi(h  to  attain  by  education,  for  the  immortality  of  the 
foul  is  contradicted  by  the  actions  of  many  people  who 
firmly  profefs  the  belief. 

If  you  mean  to  fecure  cafe  and  profperity  on  earth  as 
the  firft  confideration,  and  leave  futurity  to  provide  for 
itfelf ;  you  aft  prudently  in  giving  your  child  an  early 
infight  into  the  weaknefibs  of  his  nature.  You  rmy 
not.,  it  is  true,  make  an  Inkfe  of  him;  but  do  not  i  na- 
gine  that  he  will  ftick  to  more  than  the  letter  of  the  la-v, 
who  lias  very  early  imbibed  a. mean  opinion  of  hum^n 
nature  ?  nor  will  he  think  it  neccfiary  to  rife  much  above 
the  common  flandard.  He  may  avoid  grcfs  vices,  be- 
caule  honelly  is  the  bell  policy  ;  but  he  will  never  ai:n 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

;U  attaining  great  virtues.  The  example  of  writers  and 
artifts  will  ilJuflrate  this  remark. 

I  muft  therefoie  venture  to  doubt,  whether  what  has 
been  thought  an  axiom  in  morals,  may  not  have  been. a 
dogmatical  aflertion  made  by  men  who  have  coolly  Teen 
mankind  through  the  medium  of  books*  and  fay,  in  dl- 
redt  contradiction  to  them,  that  the  regulation  of  the 
pafiions  is  not,  always,  wifdom. — On  the  contrary,  it 
mould  feem,  that  one  reafon  why  men  have  fuperior 
judgment,  and  more  fortitude  than  women,  is  undoubt 
edly  this,  that  they  give  a  freer  fcope  to  the  grand  paf- 
fions,  and  by  more  frequently  going  aflray  enlarge  their 
rninds.  If  then  by  th.e  exercife  of  their  own  *  reafon 
they  fix  on  fome  liable  principle,  they  have  probably  to 
thank  the  force  of  their  pafiions,  nourimed  byfal/e  views 
of  life,  and  permitted  to  overleap  the  boundary  that  fe- 
cures  content.  But  if,  in  the  dawn  of  life,  we  could 
foberly  furvey  the  fcenes  before  as  in  perfpeclive,  and 
fee  every  thing  in  its  true  colours,  how  could  the  paf- 
fions  gain  fufficient  ftrength  to  unfold  the  faculties  ? 

Let  me  now,  as  from  an  eminence,  furvey  the  world. 
Gripped  of  all  its  falfe  delufive  charms.  The  clear  atr 
rr.ofphere  enables  me  to  fee  each  object  in  its  true  point 
of  view,  while  my  heart  is  ftill.  I  am  calm  as  the  prof- 
peel:  in  a  morning  when  the  roifts,  {lowly  difperfmg, 
filently  unveil  the  beauties  of  nature,  refreshed  by  reft. 

In  what  light  will  the  world  now  appear  ?. I  rub 

my  eyes  and  think,  perchance,  that  1  am  juft  awaking 
from  a  lively  dream. 

*   '  1 JitiJ  that  all  i'j  lui  lip-ivlfdom  tr/&/V&  wants  experience^  fovt 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  189 

I  fee  the  fons  and  daughters  of  men  purfuing  (hadows, 
and  anxioufly  wailing  their  powers  to  feed  paffions 
which  have  no  adequate  objeft — if  the  very  excefsof 
thefe  blind  impulfes,  pampered  by  that  lying,  yet  con- 
ftantly-truiled  guide,  the  imagination,  did  not,  by  pre 
paring  them  for  fome  other  ftate,  render  mort-fighted 
mortals  wifer  without  their  own  concurrence ;  or,  what 
comes  to  the  fame  thing,  when  they  were  purfuing  forae 
imaginary  prefent  good. 

After  viewing  objects  in  this  light,  it  would  not  be 
very  fanciful  to  imagine,  that  this  world  was  a  ftage  on 
which  a  pantomime  is  daily  performed  for  the  amufe- 
ment  of  fuperior  beings.  How  would  they  be  diverted 
to  fee  the  ambitious  man  confuming  himfelf  by  running 
af:er  a  phantom.,  and,  *  purfuing  the  bubble  fame  in 
*  the  cannon's  mouth'  that  was  to  blow  him  to  no 
thing  :  for  when  confcioufnefs  is  loft,  it  matters  not 
whether  we  mount  in  a  whirlwind  or  defcend  in  rain. 
And  ihould  they  compaffionately  invigorate  his  fight, 
and  (bow  him  the  thorny  path  which  led  to  eminence, 
that  like  a  quickfand  finks  as  he  afcends,  difappointing 
his  hopes  when  almoft  within  his  grafp,  would  lie  not 
leave  to  others  the  honour  of  amufmg  them,  and  labour 
to  fecure  the  prefent  moment,  though  from  the.  conditu- 
tion  of  his  nature  he  would  not  find  it  very  cafy  to  catch 
the  flying  ftream  ?  Such  fiaves  are  we  to  hope  and  fear ! 

But,  vain  as  the  ambitious  man's  purfuit  would  be, 
he  is  often  llriving  for  fomething  more  fubftantial  than 
fame — that  indeed  would  be  the  verieft  meteor,  the  wild- 
e-il  fire  that  could  lure  a  man  to  ruin. — What !  renounce 


VINDICATION'    OF    THE 

the  mo"!:  trifling  gratification  to  be  applauded  when  he 
Ihould  be  no  more  !  Wncrefore  this  ftruggle,  whether 
man  is  mortal  or  immortal^  if  that  noble  pafiion  did  not 
really  raife  the  being  ab  ,ve  his  fellows  r — 

And  love  !  \V  iac  di  vru  -ting  :c:  nes  would  it  produce-^ 
Pantaloon's  tricks  mult  yield  co  more  egregious  folly. 
To  fee  a  mortal  adorn  an  object  with  imaginary  charms, 
ard  then  £JU  down  ::nd  worfhip  the  idol  v/hich  he  had 
himfelf  let  up — how  ridiculous  1  But  what  ferious  con- 
fequences  enfue  to  rob  man  of  that  portion  of  happi- 
nefs,  which  the  Deity  by  calling  him  into  exifrence  has 
(or,  on  what  can  his  attributes  reft  ?)  indubitably  pro- 
inifed  :  would  not  all  the  purpofes  of  life  have  been 
much  better  fulfilled  if  he  had  only  felt  what  has  been 
termed  phyiical  love  ?  And,  would  not  the  fight  of  the 
object,  not  feen  through  the  medium  of  the  imagina 
tion,  foon  reduce  the  paffion  to  an  appetite,  if  reflection, 
the  noble  diflinclion  of  man,  did  not  give  it  force,  and 
mc.ke  it  an  inilrament  to  raife  him  above  this  earthly 
drofs,  by  teaching  him  to  love  the  centre  of  all  perfec 
tion  !  whofe  wifdom  appears  clearer  and  clearer  in  the 
works  of  nature,  in  proportion  a5  reafon  is  illuminated 
and>  exalted  by  contemplation,  and  by  acquiring  that 
love  of  order  which  the  ftruggles  of  paiiion  produce  ? 

The  habit  of  reflection,  and  the  knowledge  attained 
by  fjilering  any  paffion,  might  be  fhown  to  be  equally 
ufeful,  though  the  object  be  proved  equally  fallacious  ; 
for  they  would  all  appear  in  the  fame  light,  if  they 
were  not  magnified  by  the  governing  paflion  implanted 
in  us  by  the  Author  of  all  good,  to  call  forth  and 


RIGHTS    OF  WOMAN.  f     19! 

fcrengthen  the  faculties  of  each  individual,  and  enable 
it  to  attain  all  the  experience  that  an  infant  can  obtain, 
who  does  certain  things,  it  cannot  tell  why. 

I  defcend  from  my  height,  and  mixing  with  my  fel 
low-creatures,  feel  myfelf  hurried  along  the  commom 
itream  ;  ambition,  love,  hope,  and  fear,  exert  their 
.wonted  power,  though  we  be  convinced  by  reafon  that 
their  prefent  and  moft  attractive  promifes  are  only  lying 
dreams  ;  but  had  the  cold  hand  of  circumfpedticn 
damped  each  generous  feeling  before  it  had  left  any 
permanent  character,  or  fixed  fome  habit,  what  could  be 
expected,  but  felfiih  prudence  and  reafon  juft  rifmg 
above  inftinft  ?  Who  that  has  read  Dean  Swift's  dif- 
gufting  defcription  of  the  Yahoos,  and  infipid  one  of 
Houyhnhnm  with  a  philofophical  eye,  can  avoid  feeing 
the  futility  of  degrading  the  paflions,  or  making  man 
reft  in  contentment  ? 

The  youth  mould  aft  ;  for  had  he  the  experience  of 
a  grey  head  he  would  be  fitter  for  death  than  life,  though 
his  virtues,  rather  refiding  in  his  head  than  his  heart' 
could  produce  nothing  great,  and  his  underftanding  pre 
pared  for  this  world,  would  not,  by  its  nobre  flights, 
prove  that  it  had  a  title  to  a  better. 

Befides,  it  is  not  poffible  to  give  a  young  perfon  a 
juft  view  of  life ;  he  muft  have  ftruggled  with  his  own 
paflions  before  he  can  eftimate  the  force  of  the  tempta 
tion  which  betrayed  his  brother  into  vice.  Thofe  who 
are  entering  life,  and  thofe  who  are  departing,  fee  the 
world  from  fuch  very  different  points  of  view,  that  they 
caff  feldom  think  alike,  unlefs  the  unfledged  reafon  of 
the  former  never  attempted  a  folitary  flighk 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

When  we  hear  of  fome  daring  crime — it  comes  full 
on  us  in  the  deepeft  fhade  of  turpitude,  and  raifes  indig 
nation  ;  but  the  eye  that  gradually  faw  the  darknefs 
thicken,  muft  obferve  it  with  more  compaffionate  for 
bearance.  The  world  cannot  be  feen  by  an  unmoved 
fpeclator,  we  muft  mix  in  the  throng,  and  feel  as  men 
feel  before  we  can  judge  of  their  feelings.  If  we  mean, 
in  Ihort,  to  live  in  the  world,  to  grow  wifer  and  bet 
ter,  and  not  merely  to  enjoy  the  good  things  of  life,  we 
molt  attain  a  knowledge  of  others  at  the  fame  time  that 
we  become  acquainted  with  ourfelves — knowledge  ac 
quired  any  other  way  only  hardens  the  heart  and  per 
plexes  the  underltanding. 

I  may  be  told,  that  the  knowledge  thus  acquired,  is 
fometimes  purchafed  at  too  dear  a  rate.  I  can  only  an-, 
fwer,  that  I  very  much  doubt  whether  any  knowledge 
can  be  obtained  without  labour  and  forrow  ;  and  thofe 
who  wifh  to  fpare  their  child/en  both,  mould  not  com 
plain  if  they  are  neither  wife  nor  virtuous.  They  only 
aimed  at  making  them  prudent ;  and  prudence,  early  in 
life,  is  but  the  cautious  craft  of  ignorant  feif-love. 

I  hav£  obferved,  that  young  people,  to  whofe  educa 
tion  particular  attention  has  been  paid,  have,  in  general, 
been  very  fuperficial  and  conceited,  and  far  from  pleafmg 
in  any  refpeft,  becaufe  they  had  neither  the  unfufpedl- 
ing  warmth  of  youth,  nor  the  cool  depth  of  age.  I  can- 
n?-  help  imputing  this  unnatural  appearance  princi- 
]JV  to  that  hafly  premature  Inftru&ion,  which  leads 
<  r  fumptubufly  to  repeat  all  the  crude  notions 

tluy  have  taken  upon  trull," fo  that  the  careful - 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN. 

tion  which  they  received,  nukes  them  all  their  lives 
the  (laves  of  prejudices. 

Mental  as  well  as  bodily  exertion  is,  at  firft,  irkfome ; 
fo  much  fo,  that  the  many  would  fun  let  others  both 
work  and  think  for  them.  An  obfervation  which  I  have 
often  mads  will  illuftrate  my  meaning.  When  in  a 
circle  of  ftrangsrs,  or  acquaintances,  a  perfon  of  mode- 
'rate  abilities,  afferts  an  opinion  with  heat,  I  will  venture 
'to  affirm,  for  I  have  traced  this  fad  home,  very  often, 
that  it  is  a  prejudice.  Thefe  echoes  have  a  high  re- 
fpecl:  for  the  underftanding  of  fome  relation  or  friend, 
and  without  fully  comprehending  the  opinions,  which 
they  are  fo  eager  to  retail,  they  maintain  them  with  a 
degree  of  obftinacy,  that  would  furprife  even  the  perfon 
who  concofted  them. 

I  know  that  a  kind  of  fafhion  now  prevails  of  refpeft- 
ing  prejudices ;  and  when  any  one  dares  to  face  them, 
though  actuated  by  humanity  and  armed  by  reafon,  he 
is  fupercilioufly  afked,  whether  his  anceftors  were  fools. 
No,  I  mould  reply  ;  opinions,  at  firft,  of  every  defcrip- 
tion,  were  all,  probably,  confidered,  and  therefore  were 
founded  on  fome  reafon ;  yet  not  unfrequently,  of  courfe, 
it  was  rather  a  local  expedient  than  a  fundamental 
principle,  that  would  be  reafonable  at  all  times.  But, 
mofs-covered  opinions  affume  the  difproportioned  form 
of  prejudices,  when  they  are  indolently  adopted  only 
becaufe  age  has  given  them  a  venerable  aipecl:,  though 
the  reafon  on  which  they  rwere  built  ceafes  to  be  a  reafon, 
or  cannot  be  traced.  Why  are  we  to  love  prejudices^ 


T94  VINDICATION   OF   THE 

merely  becaufe  they  are  prejudices  ?*  A  prejudice  is  & 
fond  obflinate  perfuafion,  for  which  we  can  give  no  rea- 
fon ;  for  the  moment  a  reafon  can  be  given  for  an  opi 
nion,  it  ceafes  to  be  a  prejudice,  though  it  may  be  an 
error  in  judgment:  and  are  we  then  advifed  to  cherim 
opinions  only  to  fet  reafon  at  defiance  ?  This  mode  of 
arguing,  if  arguing  it  may  be  called,  reminds  me  of 
what  is  vulgarly  termed  a  woman's  reafon.  For  women 
fometimes  declare  that  they  love,  or  believe  certain 
things,  becaufe  they  love,  or  believe  them. 

It  is  imponible  to  converfe  with  people  to  any  purpofe, 
who,  in  this  ftyle,  only  ufe  affirmatives  and  negatives. 
Before  you  can  bring  them  to  a  point,  to  (tart  fairly 
from,  you  mufl  go  back  to  the  fimple  principles  that 
were  antecedent  to  the  prejudices  broached  by  power ; 
and  it  is  ten  to  one  but  you  are  flopped  by  the  philofo- 
phical  affertion,  that  certain  principles  are  as  practically 
falfe  as  they  are  abihactly  true  f  Nay,  it  may  be  in 
ferred,  that  reafon  has  whifpered  fome  doubts,  for  it  ge 
nerally  happens  that  people  afiert  their  opinions  with  the 
greateft  hea:  when  they  begin  to  waver ;  ftriving  to 
drive  out  their  own  doubts  by  convincing  their  oppo 
nent,  they  grow  angry  when  thofe  gnawing  doubts  are 
thrown  back  to  prey  on  themfelves. 

The  fact  is,  that  men  expect  from  education,  what 
education  cannot  give.  A  fagacious  parent  or  tutor 
may  flrengthen  the  body  and  fliarpen  the  inilruments 

*   Fide  Mr.  Burke. 

•j~   '  Convince  a  man  a&ainft  bis  ijcill^ 
*  He  3  of  the  fame  opinion  Jlill? 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  195 

by  which  the  child  is  to  gather  knowledge ;  but  the 
honey  mull  be  the  reward  of  the  individual's  own  in- 
duflry.  It  is  almoft  as  abfurd  to  attempt  to  make  a 
youth  wife  by  the  experience  of  another,  as  to -expert 
the  body  to  grow  flrong  by  the  exercife  which  is  only 
talked  of,  or  feen,* 

Many  of  thofe  children  whofe  conduct  has  been  moft 
narrowly  watched,  become  the  weakcft  men,  becaufe 
their  inltruclors  only  inilil  certain  notions  into  their 
minds,  that  have  no  other  foundation  than  their  autho 
rity  ;  and  if  they  are  loved  or  refpe&ed,  the  mind  is 
cramped  in  its  exertions  and  wavering  in  its  advances. 
The  bufmefs  of  education  in  this  cafe,  is  only  to  conduct 
the  (hooting  tendrils  to  a  proper  pole;  yet  after  laying 
precept  upon  precept,  without  allowing  a  child  to  ac 
quire  judgment  itfelf,  parents  exped  them  to  aft  in  the 
fame  manner  by  this  borrowed  fallacious  light,  as 
if  they  had  illuminated  it  themfelves ;  and  be,  when 
they  enter  life,  what  their  parents  are  at  the  clofe" 
They  do  not  confider  that  the  tree,  and  even  the  human 
body,  does  not  ftrengthen  its  fibres  till  it  has  reached 
its  full  growth. 

There  appears  to  me  fomethmg  analogous  in  the  mind. 
The  fenfes  and  the  imagination  give  a  form  to  the  cha- 
raclcr,  during  childhood  and  youth  ;  and  the  underfland- 
ing  as  life  advances,  gives  iirmnefs  to  the  firft  fair  pur- 
pofcs  of  fcTiiibility — till  virtue,  arifmg  rather  from  the 
clear  convidlion  of  reafon  than  the  impulfe  of  the  heart, 

'   One  fees    nothing  iv'jcn  one    is   content   to   ftnttVtplate  v»Ty  \  ft  it 
'  ntCfjTary  ta  .-iff  onefelftob*  able  to  fef  haw  fibers  aft.' 

Ro  uiTeaa. 
S 


196  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

morality  is  made  to   reft  on  a  rock  againft   which  tht 
ftorms  of  paffion  vainly  beat. 

I  hope  I  fliall  not  be  mifunderftood  when  I  fay,  that 
religion  will  not  have  this  condenfmg  energy,  unlefs  it 
be  founded  on  reafon.  If  it  be  merely  the  refuge  of 
weaknefs  or  wild  fanaticifm,  and  not  a  governing  prin 
ciple  of  conducl:,  drawn  from  felf-knowledge,  and  a 
rational  opinion  refpeding  the  attributes  of  God,  what 
can  it  be  expeded  to  produce?  The  religion  which  con- 
fids  in  warming  the  affedions,  and  exalting  the  imagi 
nation,  is  only  the  poetical  part,  and  may  afford  the  in 
dividual  pleafure  without  rendering  it  a  more  moral 
being.  It  may  be  a  fubftitute  for  worldly  purfuits ;  yet 
narrow  inflead  of  enlarging  the  heart  j  but  virtue  mult 
be  loved  as  in  itfelf  fublime  and  excellent,  and  not  for 
the  advantages  it  procures  or  the  evils  it  averts,  if  any 
great  degree  of  excellence  be expeded.  Men  will  not 
become  moral  when  they  only  build  airy  caflles  in  a  fu 
ture  world  to  compenfate  for  the  difappointments  which 
they  meet  with  in  this ;  if  they  turn  their  thoughts  from 
relative  duties  to  religious  reveries. 

Mofl:  profpeds  in  life  are  marred  by  the  muffling 
worldly  wifdom  of  men,  who,  forgetting  that  they  can 
not  ferve  God  and  mammon,  endeavour  to  blend  contra 
dictory  things — If  you  wim  to  make  your  fon  rich,  purr 
fue  one  courfc — if  you  are  only  anxious  to  make  him 
virtuous,  you  muft  take  another  ;  but  do  not  imagine 
that  you  can  bound  from  one  road  to  the  other  without 
lofmg  your  way.* 

*  See  an  excellent  effay  en  this  futy  eft  t  by  Mrs.  JSarlauld,  in  M  if  eel* 
lantous  piceei  in  ProJ'e. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  197 

CHAP.     VI, 

The  efeft  which  an  early  affectation  of  ideas  has  upon  the 
character. 

JlfDU  GATED  in  the  enervating  flyle  recommended 
by  the  writers  on  whom  I  have  been  animadverting  ; 
and  not  having  a  chance,  from  their  fubordinate 
Hate  in  fociety,  to  recover  their  loft  ground,  is  it  fur- 
prifmg  that  women  every  where  appear  a  defect  in 
nature  ?  Is  it  furprifing,  when  we  confider  what  a  de 
terminate  effect  an  early  affociation  of  ideas  has  on  the 
character,  that  they  neglect  their  underilandings,  and 
turn  all  their  attention  to  their  perfons  ? 

The  great  advantages  which  naturally  refult  from 
ftoring  the  mind  with  knowledge,  are  obvious  from  the 
following  confiderations.  The  affociation  of  our  ideas 
is  either  habitual  or  inflantaneous  ;  and  the  latter  mode 
feems  rather  to  depend  on  the  original  temperature  of 
the  mind  than  on  the  will.  When  the  ideas,  and  mat- 
ters  of  fact,  are  once  taken  in,  they  lie  by  for  ufe,  tilj 
fome  fortuitous  circumftance  makes  the  information 
dart  into  the  mind  with  illuftrative  force,  that  has  been 
received  at  very  different  periods  of  our  lives.  Like 
the  lightning's  flam  are  many  recollections ;  one  idea 
affirnilating  and  explaining  another,  with  aftoniming 
rapidity.  I  do  not  now  allude  to  that  quick  perception 
of  truth,  which  isfo  intuitive  that  it  baffles  research,  and 
makes  us  at  a  lofs  to  determine  whether  it  is  reminif- 
Sz 


rg8  VINDICATION  OF  THE 

cence  or  ratiocination,  loft  fight  of  in'  its  celerity,  that 
opens  the  dark  cloud.  Over  thofe  inilantaneous  aflbci- 
ations  we  have  little  power ;  for  when  the  mind  is  once 
enlarged  byexcurfive  flights,  or  profound  reflection,  the 
raw  materials,  will,  in  fome  degree,  arrange  themfelves. 
The  underitanding,  it  is  true,  may  keep  us  from  going 
out  of  drawing  when  we  group  our  thoughts,  or  tran- 
fcribe  from  the  imagination  the  warm  Sketches  of  fancy; 
but  the  animal  fpirits,  the  individual  character  give 
the  colouring.  Over  this  fubtile  electric  fluid,*  how 
little  power  do  we  poflefs,  and  over  it  how  little  power 
can  reafon  obtain  !  Thefe  fine  intractable  fpirits  appear 
to  be  the  efTence  of  genius,  and  beaming  in  its  eagle 
eye,  produce  in  the  moft  imminent  degree  the  happy 
energy  of  aflbciating  thoughts  that  furprife,  delight, 
and  inftruct.  Thefe  are  the  glowing  minds  that  con 
centrate  pictures  for  their  fellow-creatures ;  forcing  them 
to  view  with  intereft  the  objects  reflected  from  the  im- 
pafiioned  imagination,  which  they  pafled  over  in  nature. 
I  muft  be  allowed  to  explain  myfelf.  The  generality 
of  people  cannot  fee  or  feel  poetically,  they  want  fancy, 
and  therefore  fly  from  folitude  in  fearch  of  fenfible  ob- 
jefls  ;  but  when  an  author  lends  them  his  eyes,  they  can 
fee  as  he  fa\v,  and  be  amufed  by  images  they  could  not 
felect,  though  lying  before  them. 

*  /  Lav?  fbmeiltncst  when  inclined  to  /a;j£?j  a?  materialifts,  afked 
ivhcther,  as  the  r.ofi  poiv:rfnl  ejftfts  in  nature  are  apparently  prodvttd 
by  fluids)  //',•  mx  •>:':!' c^  \jfc*  tbe  tafjioHt  might  n  i  Le  fine  votatile  fluidt 

tbal  ti-il,  '.'y.  L.^nn'T  the  more  r::J> acl'jfj  cLmtntary parts  to. 

rretL^r — or   lu'.cti.'c-r  //^-y   icere  Jimply  a  I'aru'nl  jire   th.it pirvccLd  thf 
we^fttigvtjb  Ki.TtsrluIs  giving  them  life  and  /„'..-'  ? 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  199 

Education  thus  only  fupplies  the  man  of  genius  with 
knowledge  to  give  variety  and  contraft  to  his  aflbcia- 
tions ;  but  there  is  an  habitual  aiTociation  of  ideas,  that 
grows  '  with  our  growth,'  which  has  a  great  effect  on 
the  moral  character  of  mankind  ;  and  by  which  a  turn  is 
given  to  the  mind  that  commonly  remains  throughout 
life.  So  ductile  is  the  underftanding,  and  yet  fo  ftubborn, 
that  the  aflbciations  which  depend  on  adventitious  cir- 
cumftances,  during  the  period  that  the  body  takes  to  ar 
rive  at  maturity,  can  feidom  be  difentangled  by  reafon. 
One  idea  calls  up  another,  its  old  aflbciate,  and  memory-, 
faithful  to  the  firft  impreffions,  particularly  when  the  in 
tellectual  powers  are  not  employed  to  cool  our  fenfa- 
tions,  retraces  them  with  mechanical  exaclnefs. 

This  habitual  flavery,  to  firft  impreftions,  has  a  more 
baneful  eitecl  on  the  female  than  the  male  character, 
becaufe  bufmefs  and  other  dry  employments  of  the  un 
derftanding,  tend  to  deaden  the  feelings  and  break  afTo- 
ciations  that  do  violence  to  reafon.  But  females,  who 
are  made  women  of  when  they  are  mere  children,  and 
brought  back  to  childhood  when  they  ought  to  leave 
the  go-cart  for  ever,  have  not  fufHcient  ftrength  of 
mind  to  efface  the  fuperindu&ions  of.  art  that  have 
finothered  nature. 

Every  thing  that  they  fee  or  hear  ferves  to  fix  impref 
fions,  call  forth  emotions,  and  aiTociate  ideas,  that  give  a 
fexual  character  to  the  mind.  Falfe  notions  of  beauty  and 
delicacy  flop  the  growth  of  their  limbs  and  produce  a 
fickly  forenefs,  rather  than  delicacy  of  orgr.ns  j  and  thus 
weakened  by  being  employed  in  unfolding  inilead  of 
S  3 


20$  VINDICATION   OF    THI 

examining  the  firfl  afibciations,  forced  on  them  by  every 
furrounding  objec~l,  how  can  they  attain  the  vigour  ne- 
cefiary  to  enable  them  to  throw  off  their  factitious  cha 
racter  ?  —  where  find  flrength  to  recur  to  reafon  and  rife 
fuperior  to  a  fyftem  of  oppreffion,  that  blafts  the  fair 
promifes  of  fpring  ?  This  cruel  aflbciation  of  ideas, 
which  every  thing  confpires  to  twift  into  all  their  habits 


o 


, 


f  thinking,  or,  to  fpeak  with  more  precifion,  of  feelin 
receives  new  force  when  they  begin  to  aft  a  little  for 
themfelves  ;  for  they  then  perceive,  that  it  is  only  through 
their  addrefs  to  excite  emotions  in  men,  that  plcafure 
2nd  power  are  to  be  obtained.  Befides,  all  the  books 
profeffedly  written  for  their  inflruclion,  which  make 
the  firfl  impreffion  on  their  minds,  all  inculcate  the  fame 
opinions.  Educated  than  in  worfe  than  Egyptian  bond 
age,  it  is  unreafonable,  as  well  as  cruel,  to  upbraid 
them  with  faults  that  can  fcarcely  be  avoided,  unlefs  a 
degree  of  native  vigour  be  fuppofed,  that  falls  to  the 
lot  of  very  few  amongft  mankind. 

For  inflance,  the  feverefc  farcafms  have  been  levelled 
*igainfl  the  fex,  and  they  have  ^een  ridiculed  for  re 
peating  '  a  fet  of  phrases  learnt  by  rote,'  when  nothing 
could  be  more  natural,  confi-dering  the  education  they 
receive,  and  that  their  *  highefl  praife  is  to  obey,  un- 
argued'  —  the  will  of  man.  If  they  are  not  allowed  to 
have  reafon  fufficient  to  govern  their  own  conduct  - 
why,  all  they  learn  —  mull  be  learned  by  rote  !  And  when 
all  their  ingenuity  is  called  forth  to  adjuft  their  drefs, 
'  a  pafiion  for  a  fcarlet  coat,'  is  fo  natural,  that  it  never 
furprifed  me  ;  and,  allowing  Pope's  fummary  of  their 


•   RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  201 

chara&er  to  be  ju(l,  *  that  every  woman  is  at  heart 
'  a  rake/  why  ihould  they  be  bitterly  ceniured  for 
feeking  a  congenial  mind,  and  preferring  a  rake  to  a 
man  of  fenfe  ? 

Rakes  know  how  to  work  on  their  fenfibility,  whilfl 

the  model!  merit  of  reafonable  men  has,  of  courfe,  lefs 

effect  on  their  feelings,  and  they  cannot  reach  the  heart 

by  the  way  of  the  underflanding,  becaufe  they  have  few 

'*  fentiments  in  common 

It  feems  a  little  abfurd  to  expect  women  to  be  more 
reafonable  than  men  in  their  Itkitt'gs3  and  ftill  to  deny 
them  the  uncontrolled  uie  of  reaion.  When  do  men 
fall-in-lo<ve  with  fenfe  ?  When  do  they,  with  their  fupe- 
rior  powers  and  advantages,  turn  from  the  perfonto  the 
mind  ?  And  how  can  they  then  expect  women,  who  are 
only  taught  to  obferve  behaviour,  and  acquire  manners 
rather  than  morals,  to  defpife  what  they  have  been  all 
their  lives  labouring  to  attain  ?  Where  are  they  fuddenly 
to  find  judgment  enough  to  weigh  patiently  the  fenfe 
of  an  aukward  virtuous  man,  wnen  his  manners,  of 
which  they  are  made  critical  judges,  are  rebuffing,  and 
his  converfation  cold  and  dull,  becaufe  it  does  not  con- 
M  of  pretty  repartees  or  well-turned  compliments  ?  In 
order  to  admire  or  eileem  any  tiling  for  a  continuance, 
we  muft,  at  leaft,  have  ourcuriolky  excited  by  knowing, 
in  fome  degree,  what  we  admire  ;  for  we  are  unable  to 
eftirnate  the  value  of  qualities  and  virtues  above  our 
conip'elienfion.  Such  a  refpect,  when  it  is  felt,  may 
be  very  fublime ;  and  the  confukd  cohfcioufnefs  of  hu 
mility  may  render  the  dependeat  creature  an  intcreft- 


202  VINDICATION   OF    THE 

ing  objecl,  in  force  points  of  view ;  but  human  love 
muft  have  groiTer  ingredients  ;  and  the  perfon  very  na 
turally  will  come  in  for  its  lhare — and,  an  ample  mare 
it  moflly  has ! 

Love  is,  in  a  great  degree,  an  arbitrary  paflion,  and 
will  reign  like  fome  other  ftalking  mifchiefs,  by  its  own 
authority,  without  deigning  to  reafon  ;  and  it  may  alfo 
be  eafily  diftinguiihed  from  eiteem,  the  foundation  of 
friendfhip,  becaufe  it  is  often  excited  by  evanefcent 
beauties  and  graces,  though  to  give  an  energy  to  the 
fentiment  fornething  more  folid  muft  deepen  their  im- 
preffion  and  fet  the  imagination  to  work,  to  make  the 
moft  fair— -the  firfl  good. 

Common  paffions  are  excited  by  common  qualities. 
Men  look  for  beauty  and  the  fimper  of  good  humoured 
docility  :  women  are  captivated  by  eafy  manners ;  a  gen 
tleman-like  man  feidom  fails  to  pleafe  them,  and  their 
thirftyears  eagerly  drink  the  infmuating  nothings  of  po- 
litenefs,  whilft  they  turn  from  the  unintelligible  founds 
of  the  charmer — reafon,  charm  he  never  fo  wifely. 
With  relpeil  to  fuperficial  accomplilhments,  the  rake 
certainly  has  the  advantage ;  and  of  thefe,  females  can 
form  an  opinion,  for  it  is  their  own  ground.  Rendered 
gay  ana  giddy  by  the  whole  tenor  of  their  lives,  the 
very  afpedl  of  wifdom,  or  the  fevere  graces  of  virtue 
mult. have  a  lugubrious  appearance  to  them  ;  and  produce 
a  kind  of  reftraint  from  which  they  and  love,  fportive 
child,  naturally  revolt.  Without  tafle,  excepting  of  the 
lighter  kind,  for  tafte  is  the  offspring  of  judgment,  how 
can  they  difcover,  that  true  beauty  and  grace  mull  arife 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN.  t     203 

from  the  play  of  the  mind  ?  and  how  can  they  be  ex- 
pedled  to  relifli  in  a  lover  what  they  do  not,  or  very  im 
perfectly,  poffefs  themfelves  ?  The  fympathy  that  unites 
hearts,  and  invites  to  confidence,  in  them  is  fo  very 
faint,  that  it  cannot  take  fire,  and  thus  mount  to  pafTion. 
No,  I  repeat  it,  the  love  cherimed  by  fuch  minds,  muil 
have  grofler  fewel  ! 

The  inference  is  obvious ;  till  women  are  led  to  ex- 
ercife  their  underftandings,  they  mould  not  be  fatirized 
for  their  attachment  to  rakes  ;  nor  even  for  being  rakes 
at  heart,  when  it  appears  to  be  the  inevitable  confe- 
quence  of  their  education.  They  who  live  to  pleafc — 
muft  find  their  enjoyments,  their  happinefs,  inpleafure  ! 
"It  is  a  trite,  yet  true  remark,  that  we  never  do  any  thing 
well,  unlefs  we  love  it  for  its  own  fake. 

Suppofmg,  however,  for  a  moment,  that  women  were, 
in  fome  future  revolution  of  time,  to  become,  what  I 
fmcerely  wifh  them  to  be,  even  love  would  acquire  more 
ferious  dignity,  and  be  purified  in  its  own  fires  ;  and 
/virtue  giving  true  delicacy  to  their  affections,  they  would 
turn  with  difguil  from  a  rake.  Reufoning  then,  as  well 
as  feeling,  the  only  province  of  wom.m,  at  prjient, 
they  might  eafily  guard  againft  exterior  graces,  and 
quickly  learn  to  defpife  the  feniibility  that  had  been  ex 
cited  and  hackneyed  in.the  ways  of  women,  whofe  trade 
was  vice  ;  and  allurements  wanton  airs.  They  would 
recollect  that  the  flame,  one  muft  ufe  appropiated  ex- 
prefTions,  which  they  wilhed  to  light  up,  had  been  cx- 
hauiled  by  lull,  and  that  the  fated  appetite,  loiing  all 
reliih  for  pure  and  fimple  pleafures,  could  only  be  roufed 


204  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

by  licentious  arts  or  variety.  What  fatisfadtion  could 
a  woman  of  delicacy  promife  herfelf  in  a  union  with 
fuch  a  man,  when  the  very  artlefthefs  of  her  affection 
might  appear  infipid  ?  Thus  does  Dryden  defcribe  the 
fituation, 

••  '  •'  Where  l»ve  tJ  duty  en  tit female  fids > 

*  On  theirs  merefenfualgitjl,  and  fought  with  furly  pride? 

But  one  grand  truth  women  have  yet  to  learn,  though 
much  it  imports  them  to  act  accordingly.  In  the  choice 
of  a  hufband  they  mould  not  be  led  aflray  by  the  quali 
ties  of  a  lover — for  a  lover  the  huiband,  even  fuppofing 
him  to  be  wife  and  virtuous,  cannot  long  remain. 

Were  women  more  rationally  educated,  could  they 
take  a  more  comprehenfive  view  of  things,  they  would 
be  contented  to  love  but  once  in  their  lives ;  and  after 
marriage  calmly  let  paflion  fubfide  into  friendfhip — into 
that  tender  intimacy,  which  is  the  bell  refuge  from 
care  ;  yet  is  built  on  fuch  pure,  ftill  affections,  that  idle 
jealoufies  would  not  be  allowed  to  difturb  the  difcharge 
of  the  fober  duties  of  life,  nor  to  engrofs  the  thoughts 
that  ought  to  be  otherwife  employed.  This  is  a  ilate 
in  which  many  men  live ;  but  few,  very  few  women. 
And  the  difference  may  eafily  be  accounted  for,  without 
recurring  to  a  fexual  character.  Men,  for  whom  we 
are  told  women  were  made,  have  too  much  occupied 
the  thoughts  of  women ;  and  this  aflbciation  has  fo  en 
tangled  love,  with  ail  their  motives  of  action  ;  and,  to 
harp  a  little  on  an  old  firing,  having  been  folely  em 
ployed  either  to  prepare  tnemfelves  to  excite  love,  or 
actually  putting  their  leilbns  in  practice,  they  cannot 


, 

RIGHTS   OF   WOMAN.  205 

live  without  love.  But,  when  a  fenfe  of  duty,  or  fear 
of  ihame,  obliges  them  to  reftrain  this  pampered  deiire 
of  pleafing  beyond  certain  lengths,  too  far  for  delicacy, 
it  is  true,  though  far  from  criminality,  they  obftinately 
determine  to  love,  I  fpeak  of  their  paffion,  their  hufbands 
to  the  end  of  the  chapter—and  then  afting  the  part 
which  they  foolifhly  exadled  from  their  lovers,  they  be- 
come  abjecl:  woers,  and  fond  flaves. 

Men  of  wit  and  fancy  are  often  rakes  ;  and  fancy  is 
the  food  of  love.     Such  men  will  infpire  paffion.     Half 
the  fex,  in  its  prefent  infantine  flate,  would  pine  for  a 
Lovelace ;   a  man  fo  witty,  fo  graceful,  and  fo  valiant  ; 
and  can  they  deferwe  blame  for  afting  according  to  prin 
ciples  fo  conftantly  inculcated  ?  They  want  a  lover  and 
prote&or:  and,  behold  him  kneeling   before  them— 
bravery  proftrate  to  beauty  !  The  virtues  of  a  hufband 
are  thus  thrown  by  love  into  the  back  ground,  and  gay 
hopes,  or  lively  emotions,   banifti  reflection  till  the  day 
of  reckoning  comes  j   and  come  it  furely  will,  to  turn 
the  fprightly  lover  into  a  furly  fufpicious  tyrant,  who 
contemptuously  infults  the   very  weaknefs  he  foftered. 
Or,  fuppofmg  the  rake   reformed,  he   cannot   quickly 
get  rid  of  old  habits.     When  a  man  of  abilities  is  firft 
carried  away  by  his  paffions,  it  is  neceflary  that  fenti- 
ment  and  tafte  varnifh  the  enormities  of  vice,  and  give 
a  zeft  to  brutal  indulgencies  :    but   when  the  glois  O£ 
novelty  is  worn  off,  and  pleafure  palls  upon  the  fenfe, 
lafclvioufnefs  becomes  barefaced,  and  enjoyment  only 
the  defperate  effort  of  weaknefs  flying  from  refle&ion 
as  from  a  legion  of  devils.    Oh !  virtue,  thou  art  not 
an  empty  name  I  All  that  life  can  give— thou  giveft  ! 


206  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

If  much  comfort  cannot  be  expected  from  the  friend- 
mip  of  a  reformed  rake  of  fuperior  abilities,  what  is  the 
confequence  when  he  lacketh  fenfe,  as  well  as  princi 
ples?  Verily  mifery  in  its  moil  hideous  ihape.  When 
the  habits  of  weak  people  are  confolidated  by  time,  a 
reformation  is  barely  poflible;  and  actually  makes  the  be 
ings  miferable  who  have  not  fufficient  mind  to  be  amufed 

o 

by  innocent  pleafure ;  like  the  tradefman  who  retires 
from  the  hurry  of  bufinefs,  nature  prefents  to  them  only 
a  univerfal  blank  ;  and  the  reillefs  thoughts  prey  on  the 
damped  fpirits.*  Their  reformation  as  well  as  his  re 
tirement  actually  makes  them  wretched,  becaufe  it  de 
prives  them  of  all  employment,  by  quenching  the  hopes 
and  fears  that  fet  in  motion  their  fluggifh  minds. 

If  fuch  is  the  force  of  habit ;  if  fuch  is  the  bondage  of 
folly,  how  carefully  ought,  we  to  guard  the  mind  from 
florin g  up  vicious  aiTociations  ;  and  equally  careful 
mould  we  be  to  cultivate  the  underflanding,  to  fave  the 
poor  wight  from  the  weak  dependent  Hate  of  even  harm- 
lefs  ignorance.  For  it  is  the  right  ufe  of  reafon  alone 
which  makes  us  independent  of  every  thing — except 
ing  the  unclouded  Reafon — (  Whofe  fcrvicc  is  perfect 
freedom.' 

*  /  have  frequently  fee»  tb't  exemplified  in  women,  <wbcje  beauty 
tould  no  longer  be  repaired.  They  have  retired  from  the  no'fy  fccne  of 
di /Jibuti on  \  but,  unlcfs  they  became  mrtbodijls,  tie  folltndt  of  tie  feleft 
fociety  of their  family  connections  or  acquaintance.  Las  pref^nttd  only  a 
fearful  void  \  cortfcqiicntly,  nervous  complaint!}  and  all  tbc  vspourtjk 
train  of  idle/iff* ,  rendered  them  quite  as  ufelefst  and  far  rnort  ttnlaff>yi 
tban  vjbcn  they  joined  the  giddy  throng. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  207 

C  II  A  P.      VIL 

Modejlj. — Compr-ehenjively  corfdcred,  and  net  as  a  fcxual 
Virtue. 

J\l  JDESTY  !  Sacred  offspring  of  fenfibility  and  ren- 
'fon  | — ;rae  d.iicacy  of  mind  i — may  I  unbhmcdprefarre 
AQ  inveftigate  thy  nature,  and  trace  to  its  covert  the  mild 
charm,  that  mellowing  e.ich  har.li  feature  of  a  character, 
renders  what  would  otherwife  only  infpire  cold  admir 
ation — lovely! — Thou  that  fmootheil  the  wrinkles  of 
wiidom,  and  fofteneilthe  tone  of  the  iubiimefl  virtues  till 
they  all  melt  into  humanity  ! — thou  that  fpreadeit  the 
ethereal  cloud  that  furroanding  love  heightens  every 
^beauty,  it  half  ihades,  breathing  thofe  coy  fweets  th. 
into  the  heart,  and  charm  the  fenfe; — modulate  for  me  the 
language  of  perfuafive  reafon,  till  I  roule  my  fex  from  the 
nOvvery  bed,  on  which  they  fupinely  fleep  life  away! 

In  fpe.iking  of  the  ailbciatioh  of  our  ideas,  I  h^ve  no 
ticed  two  diftincl  modes  ;  and  in  dedning  mocL 
.appears  to  me  equally  proper  to  difcri inmate  that  purity 
of  mind,  which  is  the  elrecl  of  cliaiHty,  from  a  firr^pli- 
city  of  character  that  lead's  us  to  form  a  juil  opinion  of 
ourfelves,  equally  di  lant  from  vanity  or  prefumption, 
.though  by  no  mejins  incompatible  with  a  lofty  confci- 
oufnefs  of  our  own  dignity.  Modefty,  in  the  Litter  fig- 
nification  of  the  term,  is  that  fobernefs  of  mind  which 
teaches  a  man  not  to  think  more  highly  of  himieif  than 
he  ought  to  think,  and  mould  be  diilinguiilied  from  hu 
mility,  becaufe  humility  is  a  kind  ofjelf-abafement. 
.  T 


208  VINDICATION    OF    TKK 

A  model!  man  often  conceives  a  great  plan,  and  tena- 
ciojfly  adheres  to  it,  confcious  of  his  own  itrengh,  till 
fucceis  gives  it  a  fandion  that  determines  its  charader. 
Milton  was  not  arrogant  when  he  fuffered  a  fuggeilion 
of  judgment  to  efcape  him  that  proved  a  prophefy  ;  nor 
was  General  Waihington  when  he  accepted  of  the  corn*- 
mand  .an  forces.  The  latter  has  always 

been  characterized  as  a  modeil  man  ;  but  had  he  been: 
merely  humble,  he  would  probably  have  ihrunk  back  ir-* 
refolute,  afraid  of  truiHng  to  himfelf  the  direction  of  aft] 
enterprife  on  which  fo  much  depended. 

A  modeil  man  is  Heady,  an  humble  man  timid,  and  a 
vain  one  prefumptuous  :  —  this  is  the  judgment,  which  the 
obfervation  of  many  characters,  has  led  me  to  form,  jefus 
Chriit  was  modeft,  Mofes  was  humble,  and  Peter  vain. 

Tims,  difc  rim  mating  modefty  from  humility  in  one' 
cafe,  I  do  not  mean  to  confound  it  with  baflifulnefi  in 
the  other.  Baihfulnefs,  in  fad,  is  fo  diftind  from  mo*| 
deily,  that  the  mofi  balhful  lafs,  or  raw  country  lout, 
often  becomes  the  mo  i  impudent  ;  for  their  balhfulnefs 
being  merely  the  inivmilive  timidity  of  ignorance,  cuflom 


'  ;  cu:;try  maidens  ftigbtt 

*  Wlenjirjl  a  rcJ  coat  is  hi  / 

«   IMjln-.:  the  docrjbc  Lidss  kn  /«;*; 

*  Next  time  ai  d'/;  .':tct  eye.;  tie  luce: 
'    Sbc  KCIV  . 

*  frforfrom  bltjijueftt  tvii 

*  Ski;  flays  f  ami 

*  And  every  foidlcr  hath  bis  cia 

1   Ft  am  tent  tots  i  • 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN, 

The  fhamelefs  behaviour  of  the  proftitutes  who  infeft 
the  ftreets  of  London,  raiting  alternate  emotions  of 
pity  and  difguft,  may  ferve  to  illuflrate  this  remark ^ 
They  trample  on  virgin  bafnfalnefs  with  a  fort  of  bra 
vado,  and  .glorying  in  their  fhame,  become  more  auda- 
cioufly  lewd  than  men,  however  depraved,  to  whom  this 
fexual  quality  has  not  been  gratuitoully  granted,  ever  ap 
pear  to  be.  But  thefe  poor  ignorant  wretches  never  had 
any  modefty  to  lofe,  when  they  comlgned  themfelves  to 
infamy ;  for  modefly  is  a  virtue  not  a  quality.-  No,  they 
were  only  bafhful,  mame-faced  innocents;  and  loiing 
their  innocence,  their  mame-fkcednefs  was  rudely  brufh- 
ed  oiF;  a  virtue  would  have  le,ft  fome  vefliges  in  the  mind, 
had  it  been  facrificed  to  pailion,  to  make  us  refpecl  the 
•grand  ruin. 

Purity  of  mind,  or  that  genuine  delicacy,  which  is  the 
i©nly  virtuous  fupport  of  chaflity,  is  near  a-kin  to  that  re 
finement   of  humanity,  which  never  reildes  in  ?.ny  but 
cultivated  minds.     It   is  fomething  nobler  than  inno 
cence;  it  is  the  delic.tcy  of  reflection,  and  not  the  coy- 
I  nefs  of  ignorance.     The  referve  of  reafon,  which  like  , 
habitual  cleanlinefs,  is  feidom  feen  in  any  great  degree, 
j  unlefs  the  foul  is  aclive,  may  eafily  be  diflinguimed  from 
r     ic  ihynefs  or  wanton  fkittifhnefs ;  and,  fo  far   from 
|  being  incompatible  with  knowledge,  it  ib  its  faireft  fruit.- 
Wnat  a  grofs  idea  of  modefly  had  the  writer  of  the  fol* 
lo-.ving  remark  I  'The  lady  who  afi^ed  the  queftion,  whe- 

*  ther  women  may  be  inftrucled  in  the  modern  fyftem 
'  of  botany,  confidently  with  female  delicacy  ?  was  ac- 

*  cufed  of  ridiculous  prudery :  neverthelefs,  if  me  had  pro- 


2H>  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

•  pofed  the  queftion  to  me,  I  fhould  certainly  have  an- 

*  fwered — They  cannot'*  Thus  is  the  fair  book  of  know 
ledge  to  be  fhut  with  an  everlafting  feal !  On  reading  fi- 
milar  pafiages  I  have  reverentially  lifted  up  my  eyes'  and 
heart  to  Him  who  liveth  £or  ever  and  ever,  and  £dd,  O 
my  Father,  haft  thou  by  the  very  conftitution  of  her  na-' 
tijre  forbid  Thy  child  to  feek  Thee  in  the  fur  forms  ci£ 
truth?  And,  can  her  foul  be  fullied  by  the  knowledge' 
that  awfully  calls  her  to  Thee  ? 

I  have  then  philofophically  purfued  thefe  reflections; 
till  I  inferred,  that  thofe  women  who  have  moft  imjfrowj 
ed  their  reafon,  muft  have  the  moft  modefty — though  a 
dignified  fedatenefs  of  deportment  may  have  fucceeded 
the  playful,  bewitching  bafhfulnefs  of  youth.* 

And  thus  have  I  argued.  To  render  chaftity  the  vir 
tue  from  which  unfophifticated  modefty  will  naturally 
flow,  the  attention  mould  be  called  away  from  employ 
ments,  which  only  exerciie  the  fenlibility  ;  and  the  heart 
made  to  beat  time  to  humanity,  rather  than  to  throb] 
with  love.  The  woman  who  has  dedicated  a  confider- ' 
,able  portion  of  her  time  to  purfuits  purely  intellectual, 
and  whofa  affections  have  been  exercifed  by  humane 
plans  of  ufefulnefs,  muft  have  more  purity  of  mind,  as 
a  natural  confequence,  than  the  ignorant  beings  whofe 
time  and  thoughts  have  been  occupied  by  gay  pleafurei 
or  fchemes  to  conquer  hearts. f  The  regulation  of  the 

*    JMoJifly,  is  tl't  graceful  calm  'virtue  of  maturity  ;  lajbfulnefst  ils 
f  Is  arm  if  vivacious  youth. 

-}-•  //.  ',  as  v.an  tuitb  tnan,  <witl>  medical  men,  on 

tn'calf:  :^d  tie  prapotloxs   of  the   huwan  Lody   >icitb^ 

rv  JiJ  I  meet  ivit/.'t  that  I  iv  as  neve*  reft.. 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  211 

,vlour  is  not  modeily,  though  thofe  who  ftudy  rules 
of  decorum,  are,  in  general  termed  modelt  women* 
Make  the  heart  clean,  let  it  expand  and  feel  for  di  that 
is  human,  inilead  of  being  narrowed  by  felfim  paflions  > 
and  let  the  mind  frequently  contemplate  fubjeds  that  ex- 
crcife  the  underilanding,  without  heating  the  imagina 
tion,  and  artlefs  modeity  will  give  the  fmifiiing  touches 
to  the  picture. 

She  who  can  difcern  the  dawn  of  immortality,  in  the 
ilreaks  that  ihoot  athwart  the  milty  night  of  ignorance, 
promifmg  a  clearer  day,  will  refpect,  as  a  facred  temple* 
the  body  that  enfnrines  fuch  an  improvable  foul.  True 
love,  like  wife,  fp  reads  this  kind  of  myfterious  fanclity 
round  the  beloved  obje6l,  making  the  lover  moil  modeft 
when  in  her  prefence.f  So  referved  is  afFe&ion,  that, 
receiving  or  returning  perfonal  endearments,  it  wiihes, 
not  only  to,  Hum  the  human -eye,  as  a  kind  of  profana 
tion  ;  but  to  diifufe  an  encircling  cloudy  obfcurity  to  {hut 
out  even  the  faucy  fparkling  funbeams.  Yet,  tli.it  af 
fection  does  not  deferve  the  epithet  of  chafte  which  does 
not  receive  a  fublime  gloom  of  tender  melancholy,  tha*' 

word  or  look  of  my  ftx,  of  t?>t  abfurd  rules  ivhicb  mains  mctlejly  a  pha- 
riftiicat  cloak  of  rueaknefs  And  I  am  peifuaJcd,  that  i'i  the  pur/nit  of 
knowledge,  ivom  •«  ivould  tifver  be  infuiied  by  fenji'olc  mtn  and  rarely  by 
men  of  any  defiripthnt  if  the\  did  not  by  mock  modffiy  remind  tbeta  tnat 
tley  ivere  women :  actuated  by  the  fame  fp:.rh  as  the  Portuguese  ladies 
ttho  iuoul.1  think  their-  charms  'nfulted,  .//,  ivben  lift  alone  iviib  a  mant 
&e  did  not,  at  leaft,  attempt  to  be  grofsly  familiar  ivitb  their  pcrf^m  > 
Men  are  not  always  men  in  the  company  of  luomen^  nor  would  wir/jcn 
alivsys  remember  that  they  are  rwomen)  if  ikey  ivere  allowed  tc  acyuirt 
more  understanding 

"\   jMLale  erfemalt'i  for  the  world  contains  many  modtfl  mtn, 

T  3 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

allows  the- mind  for  a  moment  to  Rand  flill  and  enjoy 
the  prefent  fatisfaftion,  when  a  confcioufnefs  of  the 
Divine  prefence  is  felt — for  this  muft  ever  be  the  food. 
ef  joy  ! 

As  I  have  always  been  fond  of  tracing  to  its  fource  ins 
nature  any  prevailing  cuftom,  I  have  frequently  thoughts 
that  it  was  a  fentiment  of  affeftion  for  whatever  had 
touched  the  perfon  of  an  abfent  or  loil  friend,  which 
gave  birth  to  that  refpecl  for  relicks,  fo  much  abufed  byj 
h  pnefls.     Devotion,  or  love,  may  be  allowed  to  - 
hallow  the  garments  as  well  as  the  perfon;  for  the  lover 
inuft  want  fincy,  who  has  not  -a  fort  of  facred  refpect 
for  the  glove  or  flipper  of  his  miflrefs.     He  could  not 
confound  them  with  vulgar  things  of  the  fame  kind. 

T nis  fine  fentiment,  perhaps,  would  not  bear  to  be- 
analyzed  by  the  experimental  phijofopher — but  of  fuch 
fluff  is  human  rapture  made  up  I — -A  madowy  phantom 
glides  before  us,  obfcuring  every  other  object;  yet  when?; 
the  foft  cloud  is  grafped,  the  form  melts  into  common 
air,  leaving  a  fo'iitary  void,   or  fweet  perfume,  flv 
from  the  violet,  that  memory  long  holds  dear.     But,  I 
have  tr'pped  unawares  on  fairy  ground,  feeling  the  bal- 
of  fj>ii-'=g  flealing  on  me,  though  November 

As  a  fex,  women  are  more  chafte  than  men,  and  as 
inodefty  is  the  effect  of  cLiflity,  they  may  deferve  to  have 
this  virtue  afcribed  to  them  in  rather  an  appropriated 
Icnfe;  yet,  I  muft  be  allowed  to  add  an  heiltating  if: 
— for  I  doubt,  whether  chaftity  will  produce  modeily, 
though  it  may  propriety  of  conduct,  wlien  it  is  merely 


RIGHTS   OF   WOMAtf.  2IJ 

•efpecl:  for  the  opinion  of  the  world,  *  and  when  co- 
/quetry  and  the  lovelorn  tales  of  novelifts  employ  the 
^thoughts.  Nay,  from  experience,  and  reafon,  I  fhould 
be  lead  to  expect,  to  meet  with  more  modefty  amongfl 
men  than  women,  limply  becaufe  men  exercife  their  un* 
deiitmdings  more  than  women. 

Bat,  with  refpecl;  to  propriety  of  behaviour,  except 
ing  one  claf?  of  females,  women  have  evidently  the  ad 
vantage.  Whit  can  be  more  difguiiing  than  that  ini .u- 
dent  drofs  of  gallantry,  thought  io  manly,  which  nukes 
many  men  ftare  infuitiiigly  at  every  female  they  meet  ? 
Is  this  refpecl  for  the  fex  ?  This  loofe  behaviour  (hews 
fuch  habitual  depravity,  fach  weaknefs  of  mind,  that  it 
is  vd'm  to  expedt  much  public  or  private  virtue,  tL 
men  and  women  grow  more  modeil — till  men,  curbing 
a  fenfual  fondnefs  for  the  fex,  or  an  delation  of  ir ;ai  y 
afiurance,  more  properly  fpeaking,  impudence, 
|€ach  other  with  refpc^i — aniefs  appe'aie  or  pctilion  g«§ 
[the  tone,  peculiar  to  it,  to  their  behaviour.  I  mean  e^H 
^)erlbnal  refpect— the  mocleil  reiped  of  hu'r.iiiiity,  and 
Teiiow- feeling — not  the  libidinous  E>ockeiy  of  gallantry, 
nor  the  infoient  coadefceniion  of  protectorihip. 

To  carry  the  obiervation  Hill  fu;  T  muft 

Kartily  diiciaim,  and  refaie  toa.ve.i  u  :ra  nut     i 
chery  of  mind,  .as  a  man  cor>]\'  to  briii^  for- 

rward,  with  a,    maecent  caiuliaas,  or  u; 

|^itticifms,  in  ille  prc^  ncfi  *</  a  fei;;jw  creatui \- ;   v, 
|ire   now  out  of  the  queiuon,   for  then  it  is  brauiity. 


Kitj 


214  VINDICATION   OF   TH1 

Refpecl  for  man,  as  man,  is  the  foundation  of  every  noble 
fentmient.  How  much  more  modeil  is  the  libertine  who 
obeys  the  call  of  appetite  or  fancy,  than  trie  lewd  joker 
who  fees  the  table  in  a  roar. 

This  is  one  of  the  many  inflances  in  which  the  fexual' 
diftinction  reipectmg  modeity  has  proved  fatal  to  virtue}] 
and  happinefs.   It  is,  however,  carried  ftili  further,  and- 
woman,  weak  woman !  made  by  her  education  the  Have 
of  fenfibiiity,  is  required,  on  the  mull  trying  occafions^ 
to  reiift  that  fenfibility.     *  Can  any  thing,'  fays  KnoxJ 
'  be  more  abfurd  than  kee  ing  women  in  a  Hate  of  igno-v-. 
*  ranee,  and  yet  fo  vehemently  to  iniift  on  their  refilling. 
'  temptation  ? — Thus  when  virtue  or  honour  make   it 
proper  to  check  a  p ifiion,  the  burden  is  thrown  .on  the 
weaker  moulders,  contra  y  to  reafon  and  true"  modefly, 
which,   at  lealt,  momd  render  the  felf-denial  mutual,. 
to  £iy  nothing  of  the  generofiiy  of  bravery,  fuppofed  to- 
be  a  manly  vi-  t..e. 

In  the  fame  ftrain  runs  Rouff'au's  and  Dr.  Gregory's .•: 
advice  refpecting  modefty.  ftj  .nifcalled!  for  they 

both  defire  a  wife  to  leave  it  in  do^bt,  whether  feniibility. 
or  \veakneis  led  her  to  her  hufix.nd'3  arms. —  Tae  wo 
man  is  immodcfl  who  c..n  le:  tiie  fhadow  of  inch  a  doubt 
remain  on  her  hufb  n-i'.s  i?iinJ  i  moment. 

But  to  (late  the  fubject  in  a  di.fereat  light. The 

wr:nt  of  mudi-fty,  wh'ch  I  principally  deplore  as  fabver- 
fivc  of  nioraiicy,  ariieo  from  the  ilate  of  warfare  fo  fire- 
neouily  supported  by  voluptuous  men  as  the  very  eifeace 
of  r  oadty     iiou^h.  in  Ia6r,  its  bane;  becaufe  it  is  a  re-  • 
fiiiement  on  ieniual  defire,  that  men  fail  inu>  who  have  not.  | 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN. 


» 
lent  virtue  to  relifli  the  innocent  pleafures  of.  love. 
av«.  man  of  delicacy  carries  his  notions  of  modefty  ftill 
I  "further,  for  neither  weaknefs  nor  fenfibility  will  gratify 
I  him  —  he  looks  for  affeftion. 

Again,  men  boaft  of  their  triumphs  over  women,  what 

j  do  they  boaft  of?   Truly  the  creature  of  fenfibility  was 

I  furprifed  by  her  fenfibility  into  folly  —  into  vice;*  and 

I  'the  dreadful  reckoning  fills  heavily  on  her  own  weak 

I  head,   when  reafon  wakes.     For  where  art  thou  to  fincf 

1   comfort,  forlorn  and  difconfolate  one  ?    He  who  ought 

]   to  have  directed  thy  reafon,  and  fupported  thy  weaknefs, 

has  betrayed  thee  !  In  a  dream  of  palfion  thou  confentedil 

to  wander  through  flowery  lawns,  and  heedlefsly  Hep- 

ping  over  the  precipice  to  which  thy  guide,  inftead  of 

guarding,  lured  thee,  thou  ftarteft  from  thy  dream  only 

to  face  a  fneering,  frowning  world,  and  to  find  thyfelf 

alone  in  a  wafle,  for  he  that  triumphed  in  thy  weaknefs 

is  now  purfuing  new  conquefts;  but  for  thee  —  there  is  no 

-  redemption  on  this  fide  the  grave  !    And  what  refource 

hail  thou  in  an  enervated  mind  to  raife  a  finking  heart  ? 

But,  if  the  fexes  are  really  to  live  in  a  ftite  of  warfare* 

Kif  nature  has  pointed  it  out,  let  men  aft  nobly,  or  let 

pride  whifper  to  them,  that  the  vidlory  is  mean  when 

they  merely  vanquifh  fenfibility.     The  real  conqueft  is 

that  over  affection  not  taken  by  furprile  —  ,vhen,  like  He- 

|-loifa,  a  woman  gives  up  all  the  world,  deliberately,  for 

'  Jove.   I  do  not  now  conilder  the  wifdom  or  virtue  of  fuch 

ma.  facrifice,  I  only  contend  that  it  was  a  facrrfice  to  affec 

tion,  and  not  merely  to  fenfibility,  though  flie  had  her 

#   The  foor  motb  fluttering  roun.l  a  candle)  burns  its  •zv/.^i. 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

fhare.  And  I  muft  be  allowed  to  call  her  a  modeft  wo* 
man,  before  I  difmifs  this  part  of  the  fubjedl,  by  faying,, 
that  till  men  are  more  chafte,  women  will  be  immodefh 
Where,  inde^  d,  could  modefl  women  find  hufbands  from 
whom  they  would  not  continually  turn  with  difguft? 
Modefty  muft  be  equally  cultivated  by  both  fexes,  or  it 
will  ever  remain  a  fickly  hot-houfe  plant,  whilft  the  af 
fectation  of  it,  the  fig-leaf  borrowed  by  v/antonnefs,  may- 
give  a  Left  to  voluptuous  enjoyments. 

Men  s\  ill  probably  ftill  iniift  that  woman  ought  to  have 
more  moJefty  than  man ;  but  it  is  hot  difpafTionate  rea- 
foners  who  will  moft  earneftly  oppofe  my  opinion.  No, 
they  are  the  men  of  fancy,  the  favourites  of  the  fex, 
who  outwardly  refpecl,  and  inwardly  defpife  the  wealc 
creatures  whom  they  thus  fport  with.  They  cannot  fub~ 
mil  to  refign  the  higheft  fenfaal  gratification,  nor  even 
to  reiim  the  epicuriim  of  virtue — felf-denial. 

To  take  another  view  of  the  fubjec\  confining  my 
remaiks  to  women. 

The  ridiculous  falfities  *  which  are  told  to  children* 
from  mi-  aken  notions  of  modefry,  tend  very  early  to 

*  Children  very  ear 7v  fee  cats  ivith  their  Littens  LirJs  <VJiib  their  young 
cue i  &c.  IV by  wen  are  they  nut  to  ht  tolJ.  thai  tbfir  mothers  carry 
and  nour'J'h  them  in  tLe  fume ivay  (  A:  there  ivould  tijen  be  no  appearanc* 
of  ntyj?cry+  they  ivould  never  think  of  'the  fitfyefi  more  Truth  may 
always  If  tout  to  chi'.dren,  if  it  be  told  gravely  ;  but  it  rs  the  imniodeft} 
of  ajfethd  nir,di'fi'-).  that  does  all  the  tn'fcbiif;  and  tL's  fmoke  heats  th* 
«/•-'<'  >nai'<cn  b\  vainly  endeavouring  to  olfcure  ecrfahi  oljefls.  If,  inJeeed,: 
f  !.'>:•)•  m  tduH  In  kept  entirely  from  improper  company,  nvcjkou  d  never 
allude  i*  any  fuch  fr.lj<>tfs;  but  as  this  is  im.  oj/tble,  it  is  bejl  to  tell  them 
the  in.tb,  cft.-e chilly  as  fnch  information,  net  inter efting  i/jefff,  will  ma k* 
«c  i,,^rejjien  en  ibsir  imaginatii-a* 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  21  / 

in  flame  their  imaginations  and  let  their  little  minds  to 
:,  refpe'ili.ng  iubjecls,  wliich  nature  never  intended 
they  IhouJd  think  of,  tLl  the  body  arrived  at  fome  de 
gree  of  maturity  j  then,  the  pafiions  naturally  begin  to 
take  phce  of  the  fenies,  as  instruments  to  unfold  the  un- 
deriLuiding,  and  form  the  moral  character. 
I  In  nurferies,  and  boarcimg-iciiGois,  1  fear  girls  are 
firil  iboikd;  particularly  in  tlie  latter.  A  number  of 
giriii  ikep  in  the  fame  room,  and  waih  together.  And, 
thojga  I  ihouid  be  fo-vy  to  contaminate  an  innocent 
creature's  mind  by  inihiling  fklie  delicacy,  or  thofe  in 
decent  pradifli  nodons,  which  early  cautions  refpe&ing 
the  other  fex  naturally  engender,  1  fhould.  be  very  anx- 
to  prevent  their  acquiring  indelicate,  or  immodeft 
^  habit j;  ^nd  as  many  giris  ha/e  learned  very  indelicate 
tr:_K:s  fiOm  ignorant  fervancs,  the  mixing  them  thus  in- 
•crimlnately  togeiaer,  is  very  improper. 

To  lay  the  truth,  women  are,  in  general,  too  familiar 

li  eacii  othrr,  which  leads  to  that  grofs  degree  of 

gkmiliarity  that  io  frequently  renders  the  marriage  Hate 

•uihappy.    Why  in  the  name  of  decency  are  ui'jers,  fe- 

Huale  intimates,  or  ladies  and  their  waiting- women,  to 

Bbe  fo  groisjy  familiar  as  to  forget  the  reipect  which  one 

hurii.ia  ere  ..ure  owes  to  another?  That  fqueamiili  deli- 

;'  ch  flirinks  from  the  moil  difgufting  offices  when 

BkffvCtioia  *  or  humanity  lead  us  to  watch  at  a  fick  pillow, 

HP-  defpicable.     But,  why  women  in  heulth  mould   be 

S  *  A-feStion  ivould  raiher  make  one  choofe  to  perform  thefe  offices,  ttt 
fern  e  tht  d;l'ua^/  of  aft  ten  I,  byjfill'k^eptngaveilovertbem^  fir  the 
produced  by  Jtskn^fs^  is  of 


2lS  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

m  ire  familiar  with  each  other  than  men  are,  when  they 
bu.Jl  of  tneir  fuperior  delicacy,  is  a  foiecifm  in  manners 
w^icn  i  coula  never  (bhe. 

In  oruer  to  pi\  ^th  and  beauty,  I  mould  ear-  > 

ne  Lly  recommend  frequent  ablutions,  to  dignify  my 
advice  trut  u  may  not  oifend  the  ftfcidious  ear  j  and,  by'* 
example,  girls  ought  to  be  taught  to  wafh  and  art-is 
alone,  without  any  diftinCtion  of  rank ;  and  if  cuitom 
mould  m^ke  them  require  ibme  little  affiiUnce,  let  tutrn 
not  require  it  till  that  part  of  the  balineis  is  over  v/nich 

.:  never  be  done  before  a  fellow  creature  ;  becaufa  j 
it  is  an  infuit  to  tne  majefly  of  human  nature.  Not  on 
the  icore  of  modefty,  but  decency ;  for  the  care  which 
fo;;:e  moaell  women  take,  making  at  the  fame  time  a 
diiplay  of  that  care,  not  to  let  their  legs  be  feen,  is  as 
childiih  as  immodefl.* 

I  could  proceed  flill  further,  till  I  animadverted  on- 
feme  ftiii  more  indelicate  cuftoms,  which  men  never  fall 
into,  oecrets  are  told — where  filence  ought  to  reign;  and 
that  regard  to  cleaniinefs,  which  fome  religious  feels 
have?  perhaps,  carried  too  far,  efpecially  the  EiTenes, 
among:'!  the  Jews,  by  making  that  an  infuit  to  God 

v'.Ji  is  only  an  infuit  to  humanity,  is  violated  in  a 
brutal,  manner.  How  can  delicate  women  obtrude  on 
notice  that  part  of  the  animal  ceconomy,  which  is  fo 
vc;  y  diig afting  ?  And  it  is  not  very  rational  to  conclude, 

*  /  /  eminhier  to  have  met  ivitl  ivilb  a  fcnicncc,  in  a  bock  of  erfuca. 
tlcn  »e  fmile.  '  II  ivsuld  be  necdlefi  to  caution  you  again/I 

f  j  •••'(!,  hv  chance,  fader  your  neek- handkerchief  i  far  a  my- 

'  dejt  rm<ima.n .ne'v'sr  ditifo  /* 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.       . 

:•  dfiat  the  women  who  have  not  been  taught  to  refpeft 
«  the  human  nature  of  their  own  fex,  in  thefe  particulars, 
f  will  not  long  refpecl  the  mere  difference  of  fex  in  their 
\  hufbands  ?  After  their  maidenifh  baihfulnefs  is  once  loft, 
}•!,  in  fact,  have  generally  obferved,  that  women  fill 
f  into  old  habits ;  and  treat  their  hufbands  as  they  did  their 
I  fillers  or  female  acquaintance. 

Befidcs,  women  from  neceffity,  becaufe  their  minds 
Hire  not  cultivated,  have  recourfe  very  often,  to  what  I 
^familiarly  term  bodily  wit ;  and  their  intimacies  are  of 
| the  fame  kind.  In  fhort,  with  refpecl:  to  both  mind  and 
tbody,  they  are  too  intimate.  That  decent  perfonal  re- 
I'ferve,  which  is  the  foundation  of  dignity  of  character, 
I  muft  be' kept  up  between  women,  or  their  minds  will 
[  never  gain  ftrength  or  modefty. 

;    On  this  account  alfo,  I  object  to  many  feir. 
Bhut  up  together  in  nurferies,  fchools,  or  .convents.     I 
fiannot  recolleft  without   indignation,    tKff  jokes 
•toiden  tricks,  which  knots  of  young  women 
Bhemfelves  in,  when  in  my  youth  accident  threw  m. 
•jfrkward  ruilic,  in  their  way.     They  were  almoil  on  a 
•bar  with  the  double  meanings,  which  fliake  the  convi- 
Kal  table  when  the  glafs  has  circulated  freely.   But  it  is 
Klin  to  attempt  to  keep  the  heart  pure,  unlefs  the  he^d 
furnifiied  with  ideas,  and  fet  to  work  to  compare-  them, 

order  to  acquire  judgment,  by  generalizing  firaple 

s ;  and  modefty  by  making  the  underftanding  damp 
fenfibility. 

t  may  be  thought,  that  I  lay  too  great  a  ftrefs  on  per  - 
referve;  but  it  is  ever  the  hand-maid  of  modcily. 
U 


•-S.2O  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

So  that  were  I  to  name  the  graces  that  ought  to  adorn 
beauty,  I  mould  inftantly  exclaim,  cleanlinefs,  neatnefs, 
and  perfonal  refer ve.  It  is  obvious,  I  fuppofe,  that  the 
referve  I  mean,  has  nothing  fexual  in  it,  and  that  I 
think  it  equally  neceffary  in  both  fexes.  So  neceffary,; 
indeed,  is  that  referve  and  cleanlinefs  which  indolent 
women  too  often  neglect,  that  I  will  venture  to  affirm* 
that  when  two  or  three  women  live  in  the  fame  houfe, 
the  one  will  be  moft  refpecled  by  the  male  part  of  the 
family,  who  refide  with  them,  leaving  love  entirely  ou|* 
of  the  queftion,  who  pays  this  kind  of  habitual  refpecY* 
to  her  perfon. 

When  domeflic  friends  meet  in  a  morning,  there  will 
naturally  prevail  an  affectionate  ferioufnefs,  efpeciallyi 
if  each  look  forward  to  the  difcharge  of  daily  duties  3 
and,  it  may  be  reckoned  fanciful,  but  this  fentiment  has 
frequently  rifen  fpontaneoufiy  in  my  mind,  I  have  been 
pleafed,  after  breathing  the  fweet  bracing  morning  air, 
to  fee  the  fame  kind  of  frefhnefs  in  the  countenances  \ 
particularly  loved ;  I  was  glad  to  fee  them  braced,  ai 
it  were,  for  the  day,  and  ready  to  run  their  courfe  with] 
the  fun.     The  greetings  of  affection  in  the  morning  are 
by  thefe  means  more  refpeftful,  than  the  familiar  ten-- 
dernefs  which  frequently  prolongs  the  evening  talk.—*?! 
Nay,  I  have  often  felt  hurt,  not  to  fay  difgufted,  when 
:i  friend  has  appeared,  whom  I  parted  with  full  drafted 
the  evening  before,  with  her  clothes  huddled  on,  becaufd 
Ihe  chofe  to  indulge  herfelf  in  bed  till  the  laft  moment.   I 

Domeftic  affection  can  only  be  kept  alive  by  thefe  neg-j 
lectsd  attentions,  yet  if  men  and  women  took  hajjf  at 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN,  221 

fciuch  pains  to  drefs  habitually  neat,  as  they  do  to  orna- 
ftient,   or  rather  to  disfigure  their  perfons,  much  would 
be  done  towards  the  attainment  of  purity  of  mind.  But 
Avomen  only  drefs  to  gratify  men  of  gallantry;  for  the- 
lover  is  always  bell  pleafed  with  the  fimple  garb  that 
fits  clofe  to  the  mape.     There  is  an  impertinence  in- 
fcrnaments  that  rebuffs  affection;  becaufe  love  alwayi- 
clings  round  the  idea  of  home. 

As  a  fex,  women  are  habitually  indolent ;  and  every 
thing  tends  to  make  them  fo.    I  do  not  forget  the  fpurts 
of  activity  which   fenfibility   produces;    but  as    thefe 
flights  of  feelings  only  cncreafe  the  evil,  they  are  not 
<to  be  confounded  with  the  flow,  orderly  walk  of  reafon, 
So  great,  in  reality,  is  their  mental  and  bodily  indolence, 
that  till  their  body  be  ilrengthened  and  their  under- 
ftanding  enlarged  by  active  exertions,    there  is   Mttls 
leafon  to  expect  that  modeily  will  take  place  of  baih- 
fulnefs.     They  may  find  it  prudent  to  aflame  its  fern- 
blance ;  but  the  fair  veil  will  only  be  worn  on  gala  days. 
Perhaps  there  is  not  a  virtue  that  mixes  fo  kindly 
1with  every  other  asmodefty. — It  is  the  pale  moon-beam 
^that  renders  more  interefting  every  virtue  it  fofiens, 
^giving  mild  grandeur  to  the  contracted  horizon.      No 
thing  can  be  more  beautiful  than  the  poetical  fiftion, 
h  makes  Diana  with  her  filver  crefcent,  the  goddefs 
tof  chaftity.  I  have  fometimes  thought,  that  wandering 
th  fedate   Hep  in  fome  lonely  recefs,  a  modeil  dame 
antiquity  mull  have  felt  a  glow  of  confcious  dignity, 
rhen,  after  contemplating  the  foft  fnadowy  landfcape, 
fhe  has  invited  with  placed  fervor  the  mild  reflection  of 
her  fillers  beams  to  turn  to  her  chaflcfebofom. 


! 


222  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

A  Cliriftian  has  ftill  nobler  motives  to  incite  her  to''." 
preferve  her  chaftity  and  acquire  modefty,  for  her  body 
has  been  called  the  Temple  of  the  living  God;  of  that 
God  who  requires  more  than  modefty  of  mein.    His  eye 
fe;.rcheth  the  heart;  and  let  her  remember,  that  if  fhtS 
hopeth  to  -find  favour  in  the  iight  of  purity  itfelf,  heS 
chaftity  muft  be  founded  on  modefty,  and  not  on  worldljj 
prudence ;  or  verily  a  good  reputation  will  be  her  onlja 
reward  ;  for  that  awful  intercourfe,  that  facred  commu-S 
nication,  which  virtue  eftablifnes  between  man  and  hi* 
Maker,  muft  give  rife  to  the  wifh  of  being  pure  as  he! 
is  pure ! 

After  the  foregoing  remarks,  it  is  almoft  fuperfluousi 
to  add,  that  I  confider  all  thofe  feminine  airs  of  mata-s' 
rity,  which  fucceed  bamfulnefs,  to  which  truth  is  facri-l 
ficed,  to  fecure  the  heart  of  a  hufband,  or  rather  to  force 
him  to  be  ftill  a  lover  when  nature  would,  had  Hie,. not; 
been  interrupted  in  her  operations,  have  made  love  give! 
place  to  friendship,  as  immodeft.  The  tendernefs  which! 
a  man  will  feel  for  the  mother  of  his  children  is  an  ex-i 
cellent  fubftitute  for  the  ardour  of  unfatisfied  paffion  ;  butt' 
to  prolong  that  ardour  it  is  indelicate,  not  to  fay  immo-| 
cleft,  for  women  to  feign  an  unnatural  coldnefs  of  confti-^ 
tution.  Women  as  well  as  men  ought  to  have  the  com-* 
mon  appetites  and  pafiions  of  their  nature,  they  are  only 
brutal  when  unchecked  by  reafon :  but  the  obligation  toa 
check  them  is  the  duty  of  mankind,  not  a  fexual  duty.! 
Nature,  in  thefe  refpecls,  may  fafely  be  left  to  hen 
let  women  only  acquire  knowledge  and  humanity,  an<« 


RIGHTS  OF  WOMAN.  223 

ove  will  teach  them  modeily.*  There  is  no  need  of  falfe- 
ihoods,  difguiHng  as  facile,  foriludied  rules  of  behaviour 
jonly  impofe  on  fhallow  obfervers  ;  a  man  of  fenfe  foon 
jfees  through,  and  defpifes  the  affectation. 

The  behaviour  of  young  people,  to  each  other,  as  men 
and  women,  is  the  laft  thing  that  mould  be  thought  of 
in  education.  In  facl,  behaviour  in  moil  circumilances 
is  now  fo  much  thought  of,  that  iimpiicity  of  character 
is  rarely  to  be  ieen ;  yet,  if  men  were  only  anxious  to 
cultivate  each  virtue,  and  let  it  take  root  firmly  in  the 
jnind,  the  grace  refulting  from  it,  its  natural  exterior 
mark,  would  foon  ilrip  afteclation  of  its  flaunting  plumes; 
becaufe,  fallacious  as  unilable,  is  the  conduct  that  is 
not  founded  upon  truth  ! 

Would  ye,  O  my  fitters,  really  poffefs  modefty,  y« 
muft  remember  that  the  pofTefiion  of  virtue,  of  any  de 
nomination,  is  incompatible  with  ignorance  and  vani 
ty  !  ye  mail  acquire  that  fobernefs  of  mind,  which  th« 
exercife  of  duties,  and  the  purfuit  of  knowledge,  alone 
infpire,  or  ye  will  ilill  remain  in  a  doubtful  dependent 
fituution,  and  only  be  loved  whilil  ye  are  fair  !  the  - 
downcail  eye,  the  rofy  bluih,  the  retiring  grace,  are  all 
proper  in  their  feafon  ;  but  modefly,  being  the  child  of 
reafon,  cannot  long  exifl  with  the  fer.fibility  that  is  not 
tempered  by  reflection.  Befidea,  when  love,  even  inno 
cent  love,  is  the  whole  employ  of  your  lives,  your  hearts 
.-will  be  too  fofc  to  afford  modeily  that  tranquil  retreat , 
•where  (he  delights  to  dwell,  in  clofe  union  with  humanity- 

[     *    The  behainour  sf  many  nciv-ly  -niarrieJ.  -j:ornft>.   Las  often   d'lfoujltd 
\me.      They  fc  em  an\>ous   nKvcr  to  Id  their  bufiandt  forget  ibc  privi'c-e 
vf  marriage,   and  tojindnopleafiire  in  bit  kctety  unltfs  be  is  iii.\ 
lover.   Short,   indesd,   mujl  be  tJje  reign  of  love,  ivben  the  jljmt  is  thus 
tcs.ftuntly  blo%vn  rtf}  ivitocut  its  receivirig  an"jfoluljc\asl  ! 


224  riNDICAION    OF    THE 


CHAP.     VIII. 

Morality  undermined  by  fexital  notions  of  the  importance  of 
a  gocd  reputation. 

AT  lias  long  ilnce  occurred  to  me,  that  advice  refpeft- 
ing  behaviour,  and  all  the  various  modes  of  preferr 
ing  a  good  reputation,  which  have  been  fo  ftrenuonfly 
inculcated  on  the  female  world,  were  fpecious  poifons, 
that  incrufting  morality  eat  away  the  fubftance.  And> 
that  this  meafuring  of  madows  produced  a  falfe  calcula 
tion,  becaufe  their  length  depends  fo  much  on  the  height 
of  the  fun,  and  other  adventitious  circumftances. 

From  whence  arifes  the  eafy  fallacious  behaviour  of  a 
courtier  ?  From  this  fituation,  undoubtedly  :  for  fiand- 
ing  in  need  of  dependents  he  is  obliged  to  learn  the  art 
of  denying  without  giving  offence,  and,  of  evafively 
feeding  hope  with  the  chameleon's  food ;  thus  does  po-> 
litenefs  fport  with  truth,  and  eating  away  the  fince- 
rity  and  humanity  natural  to  man,  produce  the  fine 
gentleman. 

Women  in  the  fame  way  acquire,  from  a  fuppofed  ne- 
ceffity,  an  equally  artificial  mode  of  behaviour.  Yet 
truth  is  not  with  impunity  to  be  fported  with,  for  the 
pradlifed  diflembler,  at  lail,  become  the  dupe  of  his  own 
arts,  lofes  that  fagacity  which  has  been  juftly  termed 
common  fenfe ;  namely,  a  quick  perception  of  commoii| 
truths :  which  are  conliantly  received  as  fuch  by  the 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  22$ 

unfophiiUcated  mind,  though  it  might  not  have  had 
fufficient  energy  to  difcover  them  itfelf,  when  obfcured 
by  local  prejudices.  The  greater  number  of  people  take 
their  opinions  on  trufl,  to  avoid  the  trouble  of  exercifing 
their  own  minds,  and  thefe  indolent  beings  naturally 
adhere  to  the  letter,  rather  than  the  fpirit  of  a  law,  di 
vine  or  human.  (  Women,'  fays  fome  author,  I  cannot 
recoiled;  who,  '  mind  not  what  only  heaven  fees.*  Why, 
indeed  mould  they  ?  it  is  the  eye  of  man  that  they  have 
been  taught  to  dread — and  if  they  can  lull  their  Argus 
to  fleep,  they  feldom  think  of  heaven  or  themfelves, 
becaufe  their  reputation  is  fafe;  and  it  is  reputation  not 
chaftity  and  all  its  fair  train,  that  they  are  employed 
to  keep  free  from  fpot,  not  as  a  virtue,  but  to  preferve 
their  ftation  in  the  world. 

To  prove  the  truth  qf  this  remark,  I  need  only  ad 
vert  to  the  intrigues  of  married  women,  particularly  in 
high  life,  and  in  countries  where  women  are  fuitably 
married,  according  to  their  refpeclive  ranks  by  their 
parents..  If  an  innocent  girl  becomes  a  prey  to  love, 
flie  is  degraded  forever,  though  her  rr.ind  was  not  pol 
luted  by  the  arts  which  married  women,  under  the  con 
venient  cloak  of  marriage,  pradife  ;  nor  has  flie  violated 
any  duty — but  the  duty  of  refpedling  hcrfelf.  The  mar 
ried  woman,  on  the  contrary,  breaks  a  rfcqft  facred  en 
gagement,  and  becomes  a  cruel  mother  whence  is  afalfe 
.and  faithlefs  wife.  If  her  hulband  has  iliil  anX|Fecl:ion 
tfor  her,  the  arts  which  fhe  mull  pradife  to  deceivehim, 
will  render  her  the  moft  contemptible  of  human  being^ 
and  at  any  rate,  the  contrivances  neceffary  to  preferve 


226  VINDICATION"   OF    THE 

appearances,  will  keep  her  mind  in  that  childifii  or 
vicious  tumult  which  deitroys  all  its  energy.  Befides, 
in  time,  like  thofe  people  who  habitually  take  cordials 
to  raife  their  fpirits,  flie  will  want  an  intrigue  to  give 
life  to  her  thoughts,  having  loft  all  reliih  for  pleafures 
that  are  not  highly  feafoned  by  hope  or  fear. 

Sometimes  married  women  a£t  ftiil  more  audacioufly ; . 
I  will  mention  an  inflance. 

A  woman  of  quality,  notorious  for  her  gallantries-, 
though  as  me  ftill  lived  with  her  huiband,  nobody  chofe 
to  place  her  in  the  clais  where  me  ought  to  have  been 
placed,  made  a  point  of  treating  with  the  moil  infulting 
contempt  a  poor  timid  creature,  abaihed  by  a  fenfe  of 
her  former  weaknefs,  whom  a  neighbouring  gentleman, 
had  feduced  and  afterwards  married.  This  woman  had 
actually  confounded  virtue  with  reputation ;  and,  I  do 
believe,  valued  herfelf  on  the  propriety  of  her  behaviour 
before  marriage,  though  when  once  fettled,  to  tha  fatis- 
faction  of  her  family,  me  and  her  lord  were  equally  faith- 
Icfs — fo  that  the  half  alive  heir  to  an  imnienfe  eflate.. 
came  from  heaven  knows  where  ! 

To  view  this  fubjeclin  another  light. 

I  have  known  a  number  of  women  who,  if  they  did 
not  love  their  hulbands,  loved  nobody  elfe,  give  them- 
fclves  entirely  up  to  vanity -and  diffipation,  neglecting 
every  domeftic  duty  ;  nay,  even  fquandering  away  all 
the  money  which  mould  have  been  faved  for  their 
helplefs  younger  children,  yet  have  plumed  themfelves 
on  their  unfulibd  reputation,  as  if  the  whole  compafs  of 
their  duty  as  wives  and  mothers  was  only  to  preferve 


RIGHTS    OF  WOMAN.  227 

it.  Whilil  other  indolent  women,  neglecting  every 
perfonal  duty,  have  thought  that  they  deferved  their 
hufbands'  affe&ion,  becaufe  they  a  died  in  this  refpedl 
with  propriety. 

Weak  minds  are  always  fond  of  refting  in  the  cere 
monials  of  duty,  but  morality  offers  much  fimpler  mo 
tives  ;  and  it  were  to  be  wifhed  that  fuperficial  mo- 
raliits  had  laid  lefs  refpedting  behaviour,  and  outward 
obfervances,  for  unlefs  virtue,  of  any  kind,  is  built  on 
knowledge,  it  will  only  produce  a  kind  of  iniipid  de 
cency.  Refpedl:  for  the  opinion  of  the  world,  has, 
however,  been  termed  the  principal  duty  of  woman 
in  the  mod  exprefs  words,  for  Rouffeau  declares,  <  that 
'  reputation  is  no  lefs  indifpenfable  than  chaftity.'  «  A 
f  man/  adds  he,  '  fecure  in  his  own  good  conduct,  de- 
f  pends  only  on  himfelf,  and  may  brave  the  public  opi- 
*  nion  ;  but  a  woman,  in  behaving  well,  performs  but 
c  half  her  duty  ;  as  what  is  thought  of  her,  is  as  im- 
'  portant  to  her  as  what  me  really  is.  It  fellows  hence, 
'  that  the  fyftem  of  a  woman's  education  mould,  in  this 
<  refpeft,  be  diredtly  contrary  to  that  of  ours.  Opinion 
(  is  the  grave  of  virtue  among  the  men  ;  but  its  throne 
s  among  women.'  It  is  ftricHy  logical  to  infer, 
that  the  virtue  that  refts  upon  opinion  is  merely  worldly, 
and  that  it  is  the  virtue  of  a  being  to  whom  reafon  has 
been  denied.  But,  even  with  relpecl:  to  the  opinion  of 
the  world,- 1  am  convinced,  that  this  clafs  of  reafoners 
are  miftaken. 

This  regard  for  reputation,  independent  of  its  being 
one  of  the  natural  rewards  of  virtue,  however,  took  its 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

rife  from  a  caufe  that  I  have  already  deplored  as  the- 
grand  fource  of  female  depravity,  the  impoffibility  of 
regaining  refpe&ability  by  a  return  to  virtue,  though 
men  preferve  theirs  during  the  indulgence  of  vice.  It 
was  natural  for  women  then  to  endeavour  to  preferve 
what  once  loft — was  loft  for  ever,  till  this  care  fwallow- 
ing  up  every  other  care,  reputation  for  chaftity,  became 
the  one  thing  needful  to  the  fex.  But  vain  is  the  fcru- 
pulofity  of  ignorance,  for  neither  religion  nor  virtue^, 
when  they  reiide  in  the  heart,  require  fuch  a  puerile 
attention  to  mere  ceremonies,  becaufe  the  behaviour 
jnuft,  upon  the  whole  be  proper,  when  the  motive  is  pure.. 
To  fupport  my  opinion  J  can  produce  very  refpecl.- 
able  authority  ;  and  the  authority  of  a  cool  reafoner 
ought  to  have  weight  to  enforce  a  confederation,  though 
not  to  eftabliih  a  fentiment.  Speaking- of  the  general 
laws  of  ^morality,  Dr.  Smith  obferves — <  That  by  fome 

*  very  extraordinary  and  unlucky  circumftance,  a  good 

*  man  may  come    to  be  fufpected  of  a  crime  of  which 
'  he  was  altogether  incapable,   and  upon  that  account 

*  be  moft  unjuftly  expofed  for  the  remaining  part  of  his 
<  life  to  the  horror  and  averfion  of  mankind.     By  an 
f  accident  of  this  kind  he  may  be  faid  to  lofe  his  all, 
'  notwithstanding  his  integrity  and  juftice,  in  the  fame 
'  manner  as  a  cautious  man,  notwithitanding  his  utmoil 
«  circumfpedtion,    may  be  ruined  by  an  earthquake  or 
'  an  inundation.     Accidents  of  the  firft  kind,  however*. 
f  are  perhaps  ft  ill  more  rare,  and  ftill  more  contrary  to 

*  the  common  courfe  of  things  than  thofe  of  the  fecond  ; 
f  and  it  {till  remains  true,  that  the  practice  of  truth, 


K.ISHTS    OF    WOMAN. 


229 


*  juftice,  and  humanity,  is  a  certain  and  almoft  infal- 
'  lible  method  of  acquiring  what  thofe  virtues  chiefly 
<  aim  at,  the  confidence  and  love  of  thofe  we  live  with. 
'  A  perfon  may  be  eaiily  mifreprefented  with  regard  to  a 
'  particular  action  ;  but  it  is    fcarcely  pofTible  that   he 
'  mould  be  fo  with  regard  to  the  general  tenor  of  his  con- 

*  dudt.    An  innocent  man  may  be  believed  to  have  done 
'  wrong  :  this,  however,  will  rarely  happen.     On  the 

*  contrary,  the  eftabliihed  opinion  of  the  innocence  of 
'  his  manners  will   often  lead  us  to  abfolve  him  where 
s  he  has  really  been  in  the  fault,  notwithilanding  very 
'  ftrong  presumptions.' 

I  perfectly  coincide  in  opinion  with  this  writer,  for  I 
verily  believe,  that  few  of  either  fex  were  ever  defpifed 
for  certain  vices  without  deferving  to  be  defpifed.  I 
fpeak  not  of  the  calumny  of  the  moment,  which  hangf 
over  a  character,  like  one  of  the  denfe  fogs  of  November 
over  this  metropolis,  till  it  gradually  fubiides  before  the 
common  light  of  day,  I  only  contend,  that  the  daily 
conduct  of  the  majority  prevails  to  ftamp  their  cha- 
racier  with  the  imprefTion  of  truth.  Quietly  does  the 
clear  light,  mining  day  after  day,  refute  the  ignorant 
furmife,  or  malicious  tale,  which  has  thrown  dirt  on  a 
.pure  character.  A  filfe  light  diftorted,  for  a  fliort  time, 
its  fhadow — reputation  ;  but  it  feldom  fails  to  become 
jufi  when  the  cloud  is  difperfed  that  produced  the  miflake 
in  vifion. 

Many  people,  undoubtedly,  in  feveral  refpects  obtain 

*  better  reputation  than,  ftriclly  fpeaking,  they  deferve, 
•for  unremitting  induftry  will  moftly  reach  its  goal  in  all 


230  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

races.  They  who  only  itrive  for  this  paltry  prize,  like 
the  Pharifees,  who  prayed  at  the  corner  of  ilreets,  to  be 
feen  of  men,  verily  obtain  the  reward  they  feek  ;  for 
the  heart  of  man  cannot  be  read  by  man  !  Still  the  fair 
fame  that  is  naturally  reflected  by  good  actions,  when 
the  man  is  only  employed  to  direct  his  fteps  aright,  re- 
gardlefs  of  the  lookers-on,  is  in  general,  not  only  more 
true  but  more  fure. 

There  are,  it  is  true,  trials  when  the  good  man  muft 
appeal  to  God  from  the  injuflice  of  man  ;  and  amidlll 
the  whining  candour  or  hiffings  of  envy,  erect  a  pavi 
lion  in  his  own  mind  to  retire  to  till  the  rumour  be  over- 
pail:  ;  nay,  the  darts  of  undeferved  cenfure  may  pierce 
an  innocent  tender  bofom  through  with  many  forrows  ; 
but  thefe  are  all  exceptions  to  general  rules.  And  it  is 
according  to  thefe  common  laws  that  human  behaviour 
ought  to  be  regulated.  The  eccentric  orbit  of  the  comet 
never  influences  aftronornical  calculations  refpecting  the 
invariable  order  eftablilhed  in  the  motion  of  the  princi 
pal  bodies  of  the  folar  fyftem. 

I  will  then  venture  to  affirm,  that  after  a  man  is  ar- 
arived  at  maturity ,  the  general  outline  of  his  character . 
in  the  world  is  juft,  allowing  for  the  before-mentioned 
exceptions   to  the  rule.     I  do  not  fay,  that  a  prudent, 
wTorldly-wife  man,  with  only  negative  virtues  and  qua 
lities,  may  not  fometimes  obtain  a  more  fmooth  reputa 
tion  than  a  wifer  or  a  better  man.     So  far  from  it,  that 
I  am  apt  to  conclude  from  experience,  that  where  thej 
virtue  of  two  people  is  nearly  equal,  the  moU  negative] 
character  will  be  liked  belt  by  the  world  at  large,  whilftS 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN,  23! 

the  other  may  have  more  friends  in  private  life.  But 
the  hills  and  dales,  clouds  and  funmine,  confpicuous  in 
the  virtues  of  great  men,  fet  off  each  other  ;  and  though 
they  afford  envious  weaknefs  a  fairer  mark  to  fhoot 
at,  the  real  chara&er  will  flill  work  its  way  to  light, 
though  ^befpattered  by  weak  affedtion,  or  ingenious 

malice.* 

With  refpecl  to  that  anxiety  to  preferve  a  reputation 

hardly  earned,  which  leads  fagacious  people  to  analyze 
it,  I  (hall  not   make  the  obvious   comment ;  but  I  am 
afraid  that  morality  is  very  infidiouily  undermined,  in 
the  female  world,  by  the  attention  being  turned  to  the 
mew  inftead  of  the   fubftance.     A  fimple  thing  '          ; 
made  frrangely  complicated ;  nay,  fometimes 
its  (hadow  are  fet  at  variance.     We  fnould.  nev.v 
haps,  have  heard  of  Lucretia,  had  me  died  to  pi- 
her  chadity   inftead  of  her  reputation.     If  we  really 
deferve  our  own  good  opinion,  we  fliail  cor:   to 
refpe&ed  in  the  world  ;  but  if  we  pant  after  highi-r  im 
provement  and  higher  attainments,  it  is  not  fuflicient  to 
-view  ourfelves  as  we  fuppofe  that  we    are  viewed  by 
-Others,  though  this  has  been  ingenioufly  argued  as   the 
foundation  of  our    moral   fentiments.f    Becaufe,  each 
byftander    may   have  his   own  prejudices,   befides  the 
'.  prejudices   of  his  age  or  country.     We  mould  rather 
^endeavour  to  view  ourfelves,  as  we  fappofs  that  Beings 
view  us,    who  feeth  each  thought  ripen  into  acHon, 
and  whofe  judgment  never  fwerves   from  the  eternal 

*  I  allude  io  various  llograplical  writings ,  but  particularly  to  Bof- 

life  of  Johnfon. 
f    Smith. 


232  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

rale  of  right.   Righteous  are  all  his  judgments  —  juft  as 
merciful  ! 

The  humble  mind  that  feeketh  to  find  favour  in  His 
iight,-  and  calmly  examines  its  conduct  when  only  His 
prefenceis  felt,  will  feldom  form  a  very  erroneous  opinion 
of  its  own  virtues.     During  the  Hill  hour  of  felf-collec, 
tion  the  angry  brow  of  offended  juftice  will  be  fearfully 
deprecated,  or  the  tie  which  draws  man  to  the  Deity 
will  be  recognized  in  the  pure  fentiment  of  reverential 
adoration,  that  fwells  the  heart  without  exciting   any^ 
tumultuous  emotions.     In   thefe  folemn  moments  man 
difcovers  the  germ  of  thofe  vices,  which  like  the  Java' 
tree  ihed  a  peftiferous   vapour  around  —  death  is  in  the 
made  !  and  he  perceives  them  without  abhorrence,  be- 
caufe  he  feels  himfelf  drawn  by  fome  cord  of  love  to  all 
his  fellow-creatures,  for  whofe  follies  he  is  anxious  to] 
find  every  extenuation  in  their  nature  —  in  himfelf.     If 
I,  he  may  thus  argue,  who  exercife  my  own  mind,  and^ 
have  been  refined  by  tribulation,  find  the  ferpent's  egg 
in  fome  fold  of  my  heart,  and  crufh  it  with  difficulty,  i 
fliall  not  I  pity  thofe  who  have  ftamped  withlefs  vigour/ 
VQ  heedlefsly  nurtured  the  infidious  retil 


e 


,:icd  the  vital    flream   it  fucked  ?      Can  I,' 
confcious  of  my  fecret  fins,  throw  off  my  fellow-creatures 
imly  fee  them  drop  into  the  chafm  of  perdition, 
that  yawns  to  receive  them.  —  No!  no!  The   agonized 
heart  will  cry  with  fuffocating  impatience  —  I  too  am  a. 
man  !  and  have  vices,    hid,  perhaps,   from  human  eye, 
that  bend  me  to  the  daft  before  God,  and  loudly  tell  me 
when  all  is  mute,  that  we  are  formed  of  the  fame  earth,; 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  233 

and  breathe  the  fame  element.     Humanity  thus  rifes  na-- 
turally  out  of  humility,  and  twills  the  cords  of  love  that 

,t  in  various  convolutions  entangle  the  heart. 

This  fympathy  extends  ftill   farther,  till  a  mr,;: 
pleafed  obferves   force  in  arguments  that  do  not  carry 
conviclion  to  his   own  bofom,  and  he  gladly  places  in 
the  faireft  light  to  himfelf,  the  fiiowsof  r^eafon  that  have 

'led  others  ,aftray,  rejoiced  to  find  forne  region  in  all  the 
errors  of  man  ;  though  before'  convinced  that  he  w no- 
rales  the  day  makes  his  fun  to  mine  on  all.  Yet,  making; 
Is  thus,  as  it  were,  with  corruption,  one  foot  on 
earth,  the  other  with  bold  ftrides  mounts  to  heaven,  and 
claims  kindred  with  fuperior  natures.  Virtues,  unob- 
ferved  by  men,  drop  their  balmy  fragrance  at  this  cool 

•:  hour,  and  the  thirfty  land,  refreshed  by  the  pure  itrea—  3 
of  comfort  that  fuddenly  gufii  out,  is  crowned  with 
fmiling  verdure;  this  is  the  living  green,  on  which  that 

i  eye  may  look  with  complacency  that  is  too  pure  to  be- 

;   hold  iniquity  ! 

But  my  fpirits  flag  ;  and  I  muft  filently  indulge  the 
reverie  thefe  reflections'  lead  to,  unable  to  defcribe  the 

j  fentirnents  that  have  calmed  my  foul,  when  watching 
the  rifmg  fun,  a  foft  mower  drizzling  through  the  leaves 
of  neighbouring  trees,  feemed  to  fall  on  my  languid, 
yet  tranquil  fpirits,  to  cool  the  heart  that  had  been  heated 
by  the  paflions  which  reafon  laboured  to  tame. 

The  leading  principles  which  run  through  all  my  dif- 
quifitions,  would  render  it  unnecerTary  to  enlarge  on 
this  fubjed,if  a  conltant  attention  to  keep  the  varnifli 
of  the  character  frefh,  and  in  good  condition,  were  not 


234  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

often  inculcated  as  the  fum  total  of  female  duty  ;  if  rule* 
to  regulate  the  behaviour,  and  to  prefer ve  the  reputa 
tion,  did  not  too  frequently  fuperfede  moral  obliga 
tions.  But,  with  refpeft  to  reputation,  the  attention  is 
confined  to  a  fmgle  virtue — chaflity.  If  the  honour  of  a 
woman,  as  it  is  abfurdly  called,  is  fafe,  ilie  may  neglect 
every  focial  duty  ;  nay,  ruin  her  family  by  gaming  and 
extravagance;  yet  flill  prefent  a  fhamelefs  front — for 
truly  me  is  an  honourable  woman  ! 

Mrs.  Macaulay  has  juilly  obferved,  that  f  there  is  but 

•  one  fault  which  a  woman  of  honour  may  not  commit 
'  with  impunity.'    She  then  juftly  and  humanely  adds — 

•  This  has  given  rife  to  the  trite  and  foolifh  obferva- 
'  tion,    that   the  firft  fault  againft  chaflity  in  woman 
'  has  a  radical   power  to  deprave  the  character.     But 
'  no  fuch  frail  beings  come  out  of  the  hands  of  nature. 

•  The  human  mind  is  built  of  nobler  materials  than  to 
'  be  fo  eafily  corrupted ;  and  with  all   their  difadvan. 

•  tages  of  fituation  and  education,  women  feldom  be- 

•  come  entirely  abandoned  till  they  are  thrown  into  a 
'  flate  of  defperation,  by  the  venomous  rancour  of  their 
'  own  fex.' 

But,  in  proportion  as  this  regard  for  the  reputation 
of  chaftity  is  prized  by  women,  it  is  defpifed  by  men  : 
and  the  two  extremes  are  equally  deilrudlive  to  morality. 

Men  are  certainly  more  under  the  influence  of  their 
appetites  than  women  ;  and  their  appetites  are  more 
depraved  by  unbridled  indulgence,  and  the  faflidious 
contrivances  of  fatiety.  Luxury  has  introduced  a  re 
finement  in  eating  that  deflroys  the  conilitution  ;  and  aj 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  235 

degree  of  gluttony  which  is  fo  beaftly,  that  a  percep 
tion  of  feemlinefs  of  behaviour  muft  be  worn  out  before 
one  being  could  eat  immoderately  in  the  prefence  of 
another,  and  afterwards  complain  of  the  oppreflion  that 
his  intemperance  naturally  produced.  Some  women, 
particularly  French  women,  have  alfo  loil  a  fenfe  of 

I  decency  in  this  refpecl: ;  for  they  will  talk  very  calmly 
of  an  incligeflion.  It  were  to  be  wifhed,  that  idlenefs 
was  not  allowed  to  generate,  on  the  rank  foil  of  wealth, 
thofe  fwarms  of  fummer  infecls  that  feed  on  putrefac- 
faftion,  we  mould  not  then  be  difgufted  by  the  fight  of 
fuch  brutal  exceiTes. 

There  is  one  rule  relative  to  behaviour  that,  I  think, 
ought  to  regulate  every  other  ;  and  it  is  fimply  to  cherifh 
fuch  an  habitual  refpeft  for  mankind  as  may  prevent  us 
from  difgufling  a  fellow  creature  for  the  fake  of  a 
prefent  indulgence.  The  fhameful  indolence  of  many 

v  married  women,  and  others  a  little  advanced  in  life, 
frequently  leads  them  to  fin  againfl  delicacy.  For, 
though  convinced  that  the  perfon  is  the  band  of  union 

-  between  the  fexes,  yet,  how  often  do  they  from  ilieer 

indolence,  or  to  enjoy  fome  trifling  indulgence,  difguft  ? 

The  depravity  of  the  appetite,  which  brings  the  fexes 

together,  has  had  a  ftill  more  fatal  eiFecl.     Nature  muft 

ever  be  the  ftandardof  taue,  the  gauge  of  appetite — yet 

,  how  grofsly  is  nature  infulted  by  the  voluptuary. 
Leaving  the  refinements  of  love  out  of  the  queflion  ; 
nature,  by  making  the  gratification  of  an  appetite,  in 
this  refpecl,  as  well  as  every  other,  a  natural  and  impe 
rious  law  to  preferve  the  fpecies,  exalts  the  appetite,  and 


£36  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

mixes  a  little  mind  and  affection  with  a  fenfual  guft. 
The  feelings  of  a  parent  mingling  with  an  inftind 
merely  animal,  give  it  dignity  ;  and  the  man  and 
woman  often  meeting  on  account  of  the  child,  a  mutual 
intereil  and  affection  is  excited  by  the  exercife  of  a 
common  fympathy.  Women  then  having  necefTarily 
fome  duty  to  fulfil,  more  noble  than  to  adorn  their  per- 
fons,  would  not  contendly  be  the  Haves  of  cafual  appetite, 
which  is  now  the  iituation  of  a  very  conilderable  num 
ber,  who  are,  literally  fpeaking,  {landing  dimes  to  which 
every  glutton  may  have  accefs. 

I  may  be  told,  that  great  as  this  enormity  is,  it  only 
affects  a  devoted  part  of  the  fex — devoted  for  the  ialva- 
tion  of  the  reft.  But,  falfe  as  every  aflertion  might 
eafily  be  proved,  that  recommends  the  fanctioning  a 
fmall  evil  to  produce  a  greater  good,  the  mifchief  does 
not  {lop  here,  for  the  moral  character,  and  peace  of 
mind,  of  the  chafter  part  of  the  fex,  is  undermined  by 
the  conduct  of  the  very  women  to  whom  they  allow  no 
refuge  from  guilt :  whom  they  inexorably  confign  to 
the  exercife  of  arts  that  lure  their  hufbands  from  them, 
debauch  their  fons,  and  force  them,  let  not  rnodeft 
women  ftart,  to  aflame,  in  fome  degree,  the  fame  cha 
racter  themfelves.  For  I  will  venture  to  afiert,  that  all 
the  caufes  of  female  weaknefs,  as  well  as  depravity, 
which  I  have  already  enlarged  on,  branch  out  of  one 
grand  caufe want  of  chaftity  in  men. 

This  intemperance,  fo  prevalent,  depraves  the  appe 
tite  to  fuch  a  degree,  that  a  wanton  ftimulus  is  neceffary 
to  roufe  it ;  but  the  parental  defign  of  nature  is  for- 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  237 

gotten,  and  the  mere  perfon,  and  that  for  a  moment, 
alone  engrofles  the  thoughts.  So  voluptuous,  indeed, 
often  grows  the  luftful  prowler,  thas  he  refines  on 
female  ibftnefs.  Something  more  loft  than  woman  is 
then  fought  for  ;  till,  in  Italy  and  Portugal,  men  attend 
the  levees  of  equivocal  beings,  tough  for  more  than  fe- 

£   male  languor. 

To  fatisfy  this  genius  of  men,  worn  n  are  made  fyf- 
tematically  voluptuous,  and  though  they  may  not  all 
carry  their  libertinifm  to  the  fame  height,  yet  this 
heartlefs  interccurfe  with  the  fex,  which  they  allow 
themfelves,  depraves  bothfexes,  becaufe  the  tafte  of  men 
is  vitiated ;  and  women,  of  all  claiTes,  naturally  fquare 
their  beha.viour  to  gratify  the  tafte  by  which  they  ob 
tain  pleafure  and  power.  Women  becoming,  confe- 

jj  quently  weaker,  in  mind  and  body,  than  they  ought  to 
be,  v/ere  one  of  the  grand  ends  of  their  being  taken 
into  the  account,  that  of  bearing  and  nurfmg  children, 
have  not  fufficient  ilrength  to  difcharge  the  firft  duty  of 
a  mother  ;  and  facrificing  to  lafcivioufnefs  the  parental 
affection,  that  ennobles  inflmcT:,  either  deftroy  the  em*- 
bsyo  in  the  womb,  or  caft  it  off  when  born.  Nature 
in  every  thing  demands  refpecl,  and  thofe  who  violate 
her  laws  feldom  violate  them  with  impunity.  The  weak 
enervated  women  who  particularly  catch  the  attention 
of  libertines,  are  unfit  to  be  mothers,  though  they  may 
conceive  ;  fo  that  the  rich  fenfualift,  who  has  rioted 
among  women,  fpreading  depravity  and  mifcry,  when 
he  willies  to  perpetuate  his  name,  receives  from  his 
wife  only  an  half-formed  being  that  inherits  both  itt 
father's  and  mother's  weaknefs. 


238  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

Contrailing  the  humanity  of  the  prefent  age  with  the 
barbarifm  of  antiquity,  great  flrefs  has  been  laid  on  the 
favage  cuitom  of  expoling  the  children  whom  their  pa 
rents  could  not  maintain ;  whilil  the  man  of  fenfibility, 
who  thus,  perhaps,  complains,  by  his  promifcuous 
amours  produces  a  moft  defcruclive  barrennefs  and  con 
tagious  flagitioufnefs  of  manners.  Surely  nature  never 
intended  that  women,  by  fatisfying  an  appetite,  mould 
fruftrate  the  very  purpole  for  which  it  was  implanted  ? 

I  have  before  obferved,  that  men  ought  to  maintain 
the  women  whom  they  have  feduced  ;  this  would  be  one 
means  of  reforming  female  manners,  and  flopping  an 
abufe  that  hasian  equally  fatal  efFecl:  on  population  and 
morals.  Another,  no  lefs  obvious,  would  be  to  turn  the 
attention  of  woman  to  the  real  virtue  of  chaflity ;  for 
to  little  refpecl  has  that  woman  a  claim,  on  the  fcore  of  • 
modefcy,  though  her  reputation  maybe  white  as  the  dri 
ven  fnow,  who  fmiles  on  the  libertine  whilfl  me  fpurns 
the  victims  of  his  kwlefs  appetites  and  their  own  folly. 

Befides,  (he  has  a  taint  of  the  fame  folly,  pure  as  me 
eiieems  herfelf,  when  me  ftudioufiy  adorns  her  perforr 
only  to  be  feen  by  men,  to  excite  refpe&ful  %hs,  and 
all  the  idle  homage  of  what  is  called  innocent  gallantry. 
Did  women  redly .  refpedl  virtue  Tor  its  own  fake,  they 
would  not  feek  for  a  compenfation  in  vanity,  for  the 
felf-uenial  which  they  are  obliged  to  pra&ife  to  pre- 
fcrve  their  reputation,  nor  would  they  affociate  with 
men  who  fet  reputation  at  defiance. 

The  two  fexes  mutually  corrupt  and  improve  each 
other.  This  I  believe  to  be  an  indifputable '  truth, 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN. 

extending  it  to  every  virtue.  Chaftity,  modefty,  public 
fpirit,  and  all  the  noble  train  of  virtues,  on  which  fo- 
fcial  virtue  and  happinefs  is  built,  mould  be  underftood 
and  cultivated  by  all  mankind,  or  they  will  be  culti 
vated  to  little  effect.  And,  inftead  of  furniming  the 
vicious  or  idle  with  a  pretext  for  violating  fome  facred 
duty,  by  terming  it  a  fexual  one,  it  would  be  wifer  to 
mow,  that  niture  has  not  made  any  difference,  for  that 
the  unchafle  man  doubly  defeats  the  purpofe  of  nature 
by  rendering  women  barren,  and  deilroying  his  own 
conftitution,  though  he  avoids  the  fhame  that  purfues  the 
crime  in  the  other  fex.  Thefe  are  the  phyfical  confe- 
quences,  the  moral  are  Hill  more  alarming  ;  for  virtue 
is  only  a  nominal  diftinction  when  the  duties  of  citizens, 
huibjinds,  wives,  fathers,  mothers,  and  directors  of  fa 
milies,  become  merely  the  felfifh  ties  of  convenience, 

Why  then  do  philofophers  look  for  public  fpirit  ? 
Public  fpirit  muft  be  nurtured  by  private  virtue,  or  it 
will  referable  the  factitious  fentiment  which  makes  women 
careful  to  preferve  their  reputation,  and  men  their  ho 
nour.  A  fentiment  that  often  exifls  unfupported  by 
virtue,  unfupported  by  that  fublime  morality  which 
makes  the  habitual  breach  of  one  duty  a  breach  of  th« 
whole  moral  law. 


240  VINDICATION    OF    THK 


CHAP.      IX. 

Of  the  pernicious  ejfetts  which  arifefrom  the  unnatural  dif- 
tin£tio~as  ejiablijhed  in  fociety. 

A  ROM  the  refpeft  paid  to  property  flow,  as  from  a 
poifoned  fountain,  moft  of  the  evils  and  vices  which 
render  this  world  fuch  a  dreary  fcene  to  the  contem 
plative  mind.  For  it  is  in  the  moll  polifned  foeiety 
that  noify  reptiles  and  venomous  ferpcnts  lurk  under 
the  rank  herbage;  and  there  is  voluptuoufnefs  pam 
pered  by  the  {till  fultry  air,  which  relaxes  every  good 
difpolition  before  it  ripens  into  virtue. 

One  clafs  prefies  on  another ;  for  all  are  aiming  to 
procure  refpecl  on  account  of  their  property' :  and  pro 
perty,  once  gained,  will  procure  the  refpect  due  only 
to  talents  and  virtue.  Men  neglect  the  duties  incum 
bent  on  man,  yet  are  treated  like  demi-gods  ;  religion 
is  alfo  feparated  from  morality  by  a  ceremonial  veil, 
yet  men  wonder  that  the  world  is  almoil,  literally  fpeak- 
ing,  a  den  of  fharpers  or  oppreiTors. 

There  is  a  homely  proverb,  which  fpeaks  a  fhrewd 
truth,  that  whoever  the  devil  finds  idle  he  will  employ. 
And  what  bat  habitual  idlenefs  can  hereditary  wealth 
and  titles  produce?  For  man  is  fo  conftituted,  that  he 
can  only  attain  a  proper  ufe  of  his  faculties  by  exercifing 
them,  and  will  not  exercifethemunlefs  neceffity,  of  fome 
kind  firit  fet  the  wheels  in  motion.  Virtue  likewife  can 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN. 

;0hly  be  acquired  by  the  difcharge  of  relative  duties  ; 
but  the  importance  of  thefe  facred  duties  will  fcarcely 
be  felt  by  the  being  who  is  cajoled  out  of  his  huma 
nity  by  the  flattery  of  fycophants.  There  muft  be 
more  equality  eflablifhed  in  fociety,  or  morality  will 
never  gain  ground,  and  this  virtuous  equality  will  not 
reft  firmly  even  when  foun  led  on  a  rock,  if  one  half 
cf  mankind  are  chained  to  its  bottom  by  fate,  for  they 
will  be  continually  undermining  it  through  ignorance 
or  pride. 

It  is  vain  to  expect  virtue  from  women  till  they  are, 
in  fome  degree,  independent  of  men ;  nay,  it  is  vain 
to  expect  that  ftrength  of  natural  affection,  which  would 
make  them  good  wives  and  good  mothers.  Whilft 
they  are  abfolutely  dependent  on  their  hufbands,  they 
will  be  cunning,  mean,  and  felfim,  and  the  men  who  can 
be  gratified  by  the  fawning  fondnefs,  of  fpaniel-like  af 
fection,  have  not  much  delicacy,  for  love  is.  not  to  be 
bought,  in  any  fenfe  of  the  words,  its  filken  wings  are 
inilantly  fhrivelled  up  when  any  thing  befide  a  return 
in  kind  is  fought.  Yet  whilft  wealth  enervates  men  ; 
and  women  live,  as  it  were,  by  their  perfonal  charms, 
how  can  we  expert  them  to  difcharge  thofe  ennobling 
duties  which  equally  require  exertion  and  felf-denial. 
Hereditary  property  fophifticates  the  mind,  and  the  un 
fortunate  victims  to  it,  if  I  may  fo  exprefs  myfelf, 
•;fwathed  from  their  birth,  feldom  exert  their  locomotive 
? faculty  of  body  or  mind  ;  and,  thus  viewing  every 
thing  through  one  medium,  and  that  a  falfe  one,  they 
are  unable  to  difcern  in  what  true  merit  and  happinef* 


442  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

confili.  Falfe,  indeed,  muft  be  the  light  when  the  dra 
pery  of  fituation  hides  the  man,  and  makes  him  ftalk  in 
mafquerade,  dragging  from  one  fcene  of  diliipation  t0 
another  the  nerveleis  limbs  that  hang  with  ftupid  lift- 
leflhefs,  and  rolling  round  the  vacant  eye  which  plainly 
tells  us  that  there  is  no  mind  at  home. 

I  mean,  therefore,  to  infer,  that  the  fociety  is  not  pro 
perly  organized  which  does  not  compel  men  and  women" 
to  difcharge  their  refpective  duties,  by  making  it  the 
only  way  to  acquire  that  countenance  from  their  fellow 
creatures,  which  every  human  being  wiihes  fome  way  to 
attain.  The  refpect,  confequently,  which  is  paid  to 
wealth  and  mere  perfonal  charms,  is  a  true  north-eaft 
blaft,  that  blights  the  tender  bloffoms  of  affection  and 
virtue.  Nature  has  wifely  attached  affections  to  duties, 
to  fweeten  toil,  and  to  give  that  vigour  to  the  exertions 
of  reafon  which  only  the  heart  can  give.  But,  the  af 
fection  which  is  put  on  merely  becaufe  it  is  the  appro 
priated  infignia  of  a  certain  character,  when  its  duties 
are  not  fulfilled,  is  one  of  the  empty  compliments  which 
vice  and  folly  are  obliged  to  pay  to  virtue  and  the  real 
nature  of  things. 

To  illuflrate  my  opinion,  I  need  only  obferve,  that 
when  a  woman  is  admired   for   her  beauty,   and  fufiers 
herfelf  to  be  fo  far  intoxicated  by  the  admiration  me 
receives,  as  to  neglect  to  difcharge  the  indifpenfable  duty 
of  a  mother,  ilie   fins   againft  herfelf  by  neglecting  to 
cultivate  an  affection  that  would  equally  tend  to  make'., 
her  ufeful  and  happy.      True  happinefs,  I  mean  all  the-* 
contentment,   and    virtuous   fatisfaction,    that    can    b« -; 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  243 

faatched  in  this  imperfect  ftate,  muft  arife  from  well 
regulated  affections ;  and  an  affection  includes  a  duty. 
Men  are  not  aware  of  the  mifery  they  caufe,  and  the 
vicious  weaknefs  they  cherifh,  by  only  inciting  women 
to  render  themfelves  pleafmg ;  they  do  not  confider, 
that  they  thus  make  natural  and  arti&cial  duties  clam, 
by  Sacrificing  the  comfort  and  refpectability  of  a  wo- 
£nan's  life  to  voluptuous  notions  of  beauty,  when  in 
nature  they  all  harmonize. 

Cold  would  be  the  heart  of  a  hufband,  were  he  not 
rendered  unnatural  by  early  debauchery,  who  did  not 
feel  more  delight  at  feeing  his  child  fuckled  by  its  mo 
ther,  than  the  moft  artful  wanton  tricks  could  ever  raife; 
yet  this  natural  way  of  cementing  the  matrimonial  tie, 
and  twilling  efteem  with  fonder  recollections,  wealth 
-leads  women  to  fpurn.  To  preferve  their  beauty,  and 
wear  the  flowery  crown  of  the  day,  that  gives  them  a 
kind  of  right  to  reign  for  a  fhort  time  over  the  fex» 
they  neglect  to  ftamp  impreffions  on  their  haikinds' 
hearts,  that  would  be  remembered  with  more  tendernefs 
when  the  fnow  on  the  head  began  to  chill  the  bofom, 
than  even  their  virgin  charms.  The  maternal  folicitude 
of  a  reafonable  affectionate  woman  is  very  intereilmg, 
and  the  chailened  dignity  with  which  a  mother  returns 
the  carefles  that  me  and  her  child  receive  from  a  fa 
ther  who  has  been  fulfilling  the  ferious  duties  of  hi* 
ftation,  is  not  only  a  refpeclable,  but  a  beautiful  fight, 
So  fingular,  indeed,  are  my  feelings,  and  I  have  endea 
voured  not  to  catch  factitious  ones,  that  after  having 
been  fatigued  with  the  light  of  irdipid  grandeur  and  the 
Y 


2*4  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

flaviih  ceremonies  that  with  cumberous  pomp  fupplicd 
the  place  of  domeilic  afFedions,  I  have  turned  to  fomc 
other  fcene  to  relieve  my   eye,  by  refling  it  on  the  re- 
frcfning  green  every  where  fcattered  by  nature.    J  have 
then    viewed  with  pleafure  a  woman  nurfing  her  chil-j 
dren,  and   ciii charging  the  duties   of  her  ilation  withj 
perhaps,  merely  a  fervant  maid  to  take  oit  her  hands! 
the  fervile  part  of  the  houfehold  bufmefs.     I  have  feenj 
her  prepare  herfelf  and  children,  with  only  the  luxury! 
cf  cleanlinefs,  to  receive  her  hufband,  who  returning] 
weary  home  in  the  evening,  found  fmiling  babea  and  a] 
clean  hearth.  My  heart  has  loitered  in  the  midft  of  the j 
group,  and  has  even  throbbed  with  fympathetic  emo-| 
tion,    when   the  fc raping  of  the  well-known  foot  has] 
railed  a  pieafmg  tumult. 

W  hi  lil  my  benevolence  has  been  gratified  by.contcm- 
pkuing  this  artiefs  picture,  I  have  thought  that  a. couple 
of  this  ccicription,  equally  neceffary  and  independent 
of  eacli  other,  becaufeeach  fulfilled  the  refpedive  duties? 
of  sJ*eir  ftation,  pofTefied  all  that  life  could  give.-—] 
Raifed  fufficiently  above  abjedl  poverty  not  to  be  obliged! 
to  weigh  the  confequence  of  every  farthing  tiicy  fpend >. 
and  having  faflicient  to  prevent  their  attending  to  a  fri- 
gld  fyftem  of  ceconorny  which  narrows  both  heart  andl 
rnind.  J  declare,  fo  vulgar  are  my  conceptions,  that  If 
know  not  what  is  wanted  to  render  this  the  liappieil  asi 
well  as  "the  moil  refpeclable  ficuation  in  the  world,  bud 
a  tafte  for  literature,  to  throw  a  little  variety  and  intej 
reft  into  focial  converfc,  and  fome  fuperiiuous  mone)| 
to  give  to  the  needy,  and  to  buy  books.  For  it  is  no* j 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  245 

pleafint  when  the  heart  is  opened  by  compaffiorf,  and 
the  head  a&ive  in  arranging  plans  of  ufefulnefs,  to  have 
a  prim  urchin  continually  twitching  back  the  elbow  to 
prevent  the  hand  from  drawing  out  an  almoft  empty 
purfe,  whifpering  at  the  fame  time  fome  prudential 
maxim  about  the  priority  of  juilice. 

Deftruclive,  however,  as  riches  and  inherited  honours 
are  to  the  human  character,  women  are  more  debafed 
and  cramped,  if  poffible  by  ihem,  than  men,  becaufe 
men  may  Hill,  in  fome  degree,  unfold  their  faculties  by 
becoming  foldiers  and  ftatefmen. 

As  foldiers,  I  grant,  they  can  now  only  gather,  for  the 
moft  part,  vain  glorious  laurels,  whilil  they  adjuft  to  a  hair 
the  European  balance,  taking  efpecial  care  that  no  bleak 
northern  nook  or  found  incline  the  beam.  But  the  days 
of  true  heroifm  are  over,  when  a  citizen  fought  for  his 
country  like  a  Fabricius  or  a  Wafhington,  and  then  re- 
turned  to  his  farm  to  let  his  virtuous  fervour  run  in  a 
inore  placid,  but  not  a  lefs  falutary,  irream.  No,  our 
Britim  heroes  are  oftener  fent  from  the  gaming  tabie  than 
from  the  plow;  and  their  paffions  have  been  rather  in 
flamed  by  hanging  with  dumb  fufpenfe  on  the  turn  of  a 
die,  than  fublimated  by  panting  after  the  adventurous 
inarch  of  virtue  in  the  hiiloric  page. 

The  ftatefman  it  is  true,  might  with  more  propriety 
quit  the  Faro  Bank  or  card-table,  to  guiJe  the  helm,  for 
he  has  frill  bat  to  ibuffle  and  trick.  The  whole  fylterrt 
of  Britim  politics,  if  fyftem  it  may  courteoufiy  be  called, 
coniifting  in  multiplying  dependents  and  contriving  taxes 
which  grind  the  poor  to  pamper  the  rich ;  thus  a  war, 
Y  2 


246  VINDICATION    OF    THR 

or  any  wild  goofe  chace  is,  as  the  vulgar  ufe  the  phrafe, 
a  lucky  turn-up  of  patronage  for  the  minifter,  whofe 
chief  merit  is  the  art  of  keeping  himfelf  in  place. 

It  is  not  neceflary  then  that  he  fbould  have  bowels  for 
the  poor,  fo  he  can  fecure  for  his  family  the  odd  trick* 
Or  fhould  fomefhew  of  refpeft,  for  what  is  termed  with 
ignorant  ollentation  an  Englimman's  birth-right,  be  ex 
pedient  to  bubble  the  gruff  maftiff  that  he  has  to  lead  by 
the  nofe,  he  can  make  an  empty  ihew,  very  fafely,  by 
giving  his  ilngle  voice,  and  fuffering  his  light  fquadrort 
to  file  oil  to  the  other  fide.  And  when  a  queftion  of  hu 
manity  is  agitated,  he  may  dip  a  fop  in  the  milk  of  hu 
man  kindnefs,  to  filence  Cerberus,  and  talk  of  the  in- 
tereft  which  his  heart  takes  in  an  attempt  to  make  the 
earth  no  longer  cry  for  vengeance  as  it  fucks  in  its  chil 
dren's  blood,  though  his  cold  hand  may  at  the  very  mo 
ment  rivet  their  chains,  by  fan&ioning  the  abominable 
trafHck.  Aminifteris  no  longer  a  minifter  than  while 
he  can  carry  a  point,  which  he  is  determined  to  carry  - 
~—Yet  it  is  not  neceflary  that  a  minifter  mould  feel  like 
a  man,  when  a  bold  puih  might  make  his  feat. 

But,  to  have  done  with  thefe  epifodical  obfervations, 
let  me  return  to  the  more  fpecious  flavery  which  chains 
the  very  foul  of  woman,  keeping  her  for  ever  under  the 
bondage  of  ignorance. 

The  prepofterous  diftinclions  of  rank,  which  render 
civilization  a  curfe,  by  dividing  the  world  between  vo 
luptuous  tyrants,  and  cunning  envious  dependents,  cor 
rupt,  almoil  equally,  every  clafs  of  people,  becaufe  re- 
fpeftability  is  not  attached  to  the  difcharge  of  the  rela- 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  247 

five  duties  of  life,  but  to  the  ftation,  and  when  the  dit 
ties  are  not  fulfilled,  the  affections  cannot  gain  fufficient 
itrength  to  fortify  the  virtue  of  which  they  are  the  natu 
ral  reward.  Still  there  are  fome  loop-holes  out  of  which 
a  man  may  creep,  and  dare  to  think  and  aft  for  him- 
felf ;  but  for  a  woman  it  is  an  herculean  talk,  becaufe 
me  has  difficulties  peculiar  to  her  fex  to  overcome, 
which  require  almofl  fuper-human  powers. 

A  truly  benevolent  legiilator  always  endeavours  to 
make  it  the  intcreft  of  each  individual  to  be  virtuous ; 
and  thus  private  virtue  becoming  the  cement  of  public 
happinefs,  an  orderly  whole  is  confolidated  by  the  ten 
dency  of  all  the  parts  towards  a  common  centre.  But, 
the  private  or  public  virtue  of  woman  is  very  pro 
blematical  ;  for  Roufteau,  and  a  numerous  lift  of  mals 
writers,  infift  that  me  mould,  all- her  life,  be  fubie&ed  to 
a  fevere  reftraint,  that  of  propriety.  Why  fubject  her 
to  propriety — blind  propriety,  ir  me  be  capable  of  acling 
from  a  nobler  fpring,  if  me  be  an  heir  of  immortality  ? 
Is  fngar  always  to  be  produced  by  vital  blood  ?  Is  one 
half  of  the  human  fpecies,  like  the  poor  African  fbves, 
to  be  fubjett  to  prejudices  that  brutalize  them, 
principles  would  be  a  furer  guard,  only  to  fweeten  the 
cup  of  man  ?  Is  not  this  indiredly  to  deny  woman  rea- 
fon  ?  for  a  gift  is  a  mockery,  if  it  be  unfit  for  ufe. 

Women  are,  in  common  with  men,  rendered  weak 
and  luxurious  by  the  relaxing  pieafures  which  wealth 
procures ;  but  added  to  this,  they  are  made  ib  ves  to  their 
perfons,  and  muft  render  them  alluring,  that  man  may 
lend  them  his  reafon  to  guide  their  tottering  fteps  aright. 

=  y  3 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

Or  mould  they  be  ambitious,  they  muft  govern  their 
tyrants  by  fmifter  tricks,  for  without  rights  there  cannot 
be  any  incumbent  duties.  The  laws  refpe&ing  woman, 
which  1  mean  to  difcufs  in  a  future  part,  make  an  ab- 
furd  unit  of  a  man  and  his  wife  ;  and  then,  by  the  eafy 
tranfition  of  only  considering  him  as  refponfibie,  ihe  is 
reduced  to  a  mere  cypher. 

The  being  who  difcharges  the  duties  of  its  flation  is 
independent;  and,  fpeaking  of  women  at  large,  their 
fcrft  duty  is  to  themfelves  as  rational  creatures,  and  the 
next  in  point  of  importance,  as  citizens,  is  that,  which 
'includes  fo  many,  of  a  mother.  The  rank  in  life  which 
difpenfes  with  their  fulfilling  this  duty,  neceffarily  de» 
grades  them  by  making  them  mere  dolls.  Or,  mould 
they  turn  to  fomething  more  important  than  merely 
iktting  drapery  upon  a  fmooth  block,  their  minds  are 
only  occupied  by  fome  foft  platonic  attachment;  or, 
the  adual  management  of  an  intrigue  may  keep  their 
thoughts  in  motion ;  for  when  they  neglect  domeftic 
duties,  th«y  have  it  not  in  their  power  to  take  the  field 
and  march  and  counter-march  like  foldiers,  or  wrangle 
in  the  fcnate  io  keep  their  faculties  from  rufting. 

I  know,  that  as  a  proof  of  the  inferiority  of  the  fex, 
au  has  exultingly  exclaimed,  How  can  they  leave 
the'  nurfery  for  the  ^.dmp  !— And  the  camp  has  by  fome 
moraiiils  been  termed  the  fchool  of  the  moft  heroic  vir 
tues  ;  though,  I  think,  it  would  puzzle  a  keen  cafuift  ta 
prove  the  rcafonablenefs  of  the  greater  number  of  wars, 
that  have  dubbed  heroes.  I  do  not  mean  to  confider  this 
queftion  critically;  becaufe,  having  frequently  viewed 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  249 

thefe  freaks  of  ambition  as  the  firfl  natural  mode  of  ci- 
rilization,  when  the  ground  maft  be  torn  up,  and  the 
woods  cleared  by  fire  and  fword,  1  do  not  choofe  to 
call  them  pelts ;  but  fureiy  the  prefent  fyftem  of  war, 
has  little  connection  with  virtue  of  any  denomination, 
being  rather  the  fchool  of  fne//e  and  effeminacy,  than 
of  fortitude. 

Yet,  if  defeniive  war,  the  only  juftifiable  war,  in  the 
prefent  advanced  ftate  of  fociety,  'where  virtue  can  fhew 
its  face  and  ripen  amidit  the  rigours  which  purify  the 
air  on  the  mountain's  top,  were  alone  to  be  adopted  as 
juft  and  glorious,  the  true  heroifm  of  antiquity  might 
again  animate  female  boibms. — But  fair  and  foftly,  gen 
tle  reader,  male  or  female,  do  not  alarm  thyfelf,  for 
though  I  have  contrafted  the  character  of  a  modern  fol- 
dier  with  that  of  a  civilized  worm,n,  I  am  not  going  to 
advife  them  to  turn  their  diltaff  into  a  mufker,  though 
I  fmcerely  wifh  to  fee  the  bayonet  converted  into  a 
•pruning-hook.  I  only  recreated  an  imagination,  fa 
tigued  by  contemplating  the  vices  and  follies  which  all 
proceed  from  a  feculent  ftream  of  wealth  thit  has  mud 
died  the  pure  rills  of  natural  aiFeclion,  by  fuppcfirg 
that  fociety  will  fome  time  or  other  be  ib  conitiur  1, 
that  man  muft  neceffarily  fulfil  the  duties  of  a  citizen, 
or  be  defpifed,  and  that  while  he  was  employed  in  any 
of  the  departments  of  civil  life,  his  wife,  alio  an  active 
citizen,  mould  be  equally  intent  to  manage  her  family, 
educate  her  children,  and  affift  her  neigjiuouis. 

But,  to  render  her  reaily  virtuous  and  ufeful,  {he  muft 
not,  if  me  difcharge  her  civil  duties,  want,  individually, 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

the  protection  of  civil  laws ;  me  muft  not  be  dependent 
on  her  hulband's  bounty  for  her  fubiiftance  during  his 
life,  or  fupport  after  his  death — for  how  can  a  being  be 
generous  who  has  nothing  of  its  own  ?  or,  virtuous, 
who  is  not  free  ?  The  wife,  in  the  prefent  ftate  of  things, 
who  is.  faithful  to  her  hurt/and,  and  neither  fuckles  nor 
educates  her  children,  fcarcely  deferves  the  name  of  a 
wife,  and  has  no  right  to  that  of  a  citizen.  But  take 
away  natural  rights,'  and  there  is  of  courfe  an  end  of 
duties. 

Women  thus  infallibly  become  only  the  wanton  folace 
of  men,  when  th«y  are  ib  weak  in  mind  and  body,  that 
they  cannot  exert  themfelves,  unlefs  to  purfue  fome 
frothy  pleafure,  or  to  invent  iome  frivolous  famiom 
What  can  be  a  more  melancholy  fight  to  a  thinking 
mind,  than  to  look  into  the  numerous  carriages  that 
drive  helter-ikelter  about  this  metropolis  in  a  morning, 
full  of  pale-faced  creatures  who  are  flying  from  them 
felves.  I  have  often  wifhed,  with  Dr.  Johnfon,  to  place 
fome  of  them  in  a  little  mop,  with  half  a  dozen  chil 
dren  looking  up  to  their  languid  countenances  for 
fupport.  1  am  much  miftaken,  if  fome  latent  vigour 
would  not  foon  give  health  and  ipirit  to  their  eyes, 
and  fome  lines  drawn  by  the  exercile  of  reafon  on  the 
blank  cheeks,  which  before  were  only  undulated  by 
dimples,  might  reilore  loft  dignity  to  the  character,  or 
rather  enable  it  to  attain  the  true  dignity  of  its  nature* 
Virtue  is  not  to  be  acquired  even  by  fpeculation,  much 
leis  by  the  negative  fupinenefs  that  wealth  naturally 
generates. 


RIGHTS    OF  WOMAW,  25! 

Befides,  when  poverty  is  more  difgraceful  than  even 
vice,  is  not  morality  cut  to  the  quick  ?  Still  to  avoid 
mifconftrudlion,  though  I  confider  that  women  in  the 
common  walks  of  life  are  called  to  fulfil  the  duties  of 
wives  and  mothers,  by  religion  and  reafon,  I  cannot 
lielp  lamenting  that  women  of  a  fuperior  caft  have  not 
a  road  open  by  which  they  can  purfue  more  exten- 
iive  plans  of  ufefulnefs  and  independence.  I  may  ex 
cite  laughter,  by  dropping  an  hint,  which  I  mean  to 
purfue,  fome  future  time,  for  I  really  think  that  women- 
ought  to  have  reprefentatives,  inftead  of  being  arbi 
trarily  governed  without  having  any  di reel  mare  allowed 
them  in  the  deliberations  of  government. 

But,  as  the  whole  fyftem  of  reprefentation  is  now,  in 
this  country,  only  a  convenient  handle  for  defpotifm, 
they  need  not  complain,  for  they  are  as  well  reprefented 
as  a  numerous  clafs  of  hard-working  mechanics,  who 
pay  for  the  fupport  of  royalty  when  they  can  fcarcelv 
flop  their  children's  mouths  with  bread.  How  are  they 
reprefented,  whofe  very  fweat  fupports  the  fplendid 
ftud  of 'the  heir  apparent,  or  varmilies  the  chariot  of 
fome  female  favourite  who  looks  down  on  mame  ?  Taxes 
On  the  very  necefiaries  of  life,  enable  an  endlefs  tribe 
of  idle  princes  and  princelTes  to  pafs  with  ftupid  ponip 
before  a  gaping  crowd,  who  almoft  woiihip  the  very 
parade  which  coils  them  fo  dear.  This  is  mere  gothic 
grandeur,  fomething  like  thz  barbarous,  ufeleis  parade 
of  having  fentinels  on  horfeback  at  Whitehall,  which 
I  could  never  view  \vithout  a  mixture  of  contempt  and 
indignation. 


252  VINDICATION   OF    THE 

How  ftrangely  mu£  the  mind  be  fophifticated  when 
this  fort  of  itate  imprefles  it !  But  till  thefe  monuments 
of  folly  are  levelled  by  virtue,  fimiiar  follies  will  leaven 
the  whole  mafs.  For  the  fame  character,  in  fome  de 
gree,  will  prevail  in  the  aggregate  of  fociety  :  and  the 
refinements  of  luxury,  or  the  vicious  repinings  of  en 
vious  poverty,  will  equally  banim  virlue  from  fociety, 
coniidered  as  the  characleriitic  of  that  fociety,  or  only 
allow  it  to  appear  as  one  of  the  ftripes  of  the  harlequin 
coat,  worn  by  the  civilized  man. 

In  the  fuperior  ranks  of  life,  every  duty  is  done  by 
deputies,  as  if  duties  could  ever  be  waved,  and  the 
vain  pleasures  which  confequent  idlenefs  forces  the  rich 
to  puriue,  appear  fo  enticing  to  the  next  rank,  that 
the  numerous  fcramblers  for  wealth  fa.crifice  every  thing 
to  thread  on  their  heels.  The  moil  fucred  trufts  are 
then  confiJercd  as  fmecures,  becaufe  they  were  procured 
by  intereft,  and  only  fought  to  enable  a  man  to  keep^W 
company.  Women,  in  particular,  all  want  to  be  ladies. 
Which  is  fimply  to  have  nothing  to  do,  but  liftlefsly  to  ga 
they  fcarcely  care  where,  for  they  cannot  tell  what. 

But  what  have  women  to  do  in  fociety  ?  -I  may  bs 
afked,  but  to  loiter  with  eafy  grace  ;  furely  you  would 
not  condemn  them  all  to  fuckle  fools,  and  chronicle 
fmall  beer  !  No.  Women  might  certainly  fludy  the  art 
of  healing,  and  be  phyficians  as  well  as  nurfes.  And 
midwifery,  decency  feems  to  allot  to  them,  though  I 
am  afraid  the  word  midwife,  in  our  dictionaries,  will 
foon  give  place  to  accoucheur,  and  one  proof  of  the  foiv 
pier  delicacy  of  the  fex  be  effaced  from  the  language. 


RJCSHTS    OF   WOMAN. 

They  might,  alfo  ftudy  politics,  and  fettle  their  bene 
volence  on  the  broadeil  bidis ;  for  tne  reading  of  Imlory 
wiii  scarcely  be  more  ulcfui  than  tue  peruial  of  romances, 
if  read  as  mere  biography ;  if  the  character  of  die 
times,  the  political  iaiprovements,  arts,  &c,  be  not  cb- 
ferved.  In  ihort,  if  it  be  not  considered  as  the  hiftjry 
of  man  ;  and  nos  of  particular  men,  who  filled  a  niche 
in  the  temple  of  fame,  and  dropped  into  the  black  rol 
ling  flream  of  time,  that  iilendy  fv/eeps  all  before  it, 
into  the  ihapelefs  void  called— eternity. — For  ihape, 
can  it  be  called  <  that  mape  hath  none  ? 

Buiinefs  of  various  kinds,  they  might  likewife  pur- 
fue,  if  they  were  educated  in  a  more  orderly  manner, 
which  might  fave  many  from  common  and  legal  proiU- 
tudon.  Women  would  not  then  marry  for  a  fupport, 
as  men  accept  of  places  under  government,  and  neglect 
the  implied  duties  ;  nur  would  an  attempt  to  earn  their 
own  fubfiftence,  a  moft  laudable  one  l  fink  them  almofl 
to  the  level  of  thoie  poor  abandoned  creatures  who  live 
by  pro&tution.  For,  are  not  milliners  and  mantua- 
makers  reckoned  the  next  clafs  ?  The  few  employments 
.  open  to  women,  fo  far  from  being  liberal,  are  menial ; 
and  when  a  fuperior  education  enables  them  to  take 
charge  of  the  education  of  children  as  governefles,  they 
are  not  treated  like  the  tutors  of  fons,  thougii  even  cle 
rical  tutors  are  not  always  treated  in  a  manner  calcu 
lated  to  render  them  refpeftable  in  the  eyes  of  their 
pupils,  to  fay  nothing  of  the  private  comfort  of  the  in 
dividual.  But  as  women  educated  like  gentlewomen, 
are  never  defigned  for  tiie  humiliating  fituation  whick 


-254  VINDICATION    ©F    THE 

neceffity  fometimes  forces  tliem  to  fill ;  thefe  filiations 
aie  considered  in  the  light  of  a  degradation;  and  tr.ey 
know  liule  of  the  human  heart,  wno  need  to  be  told, 
that  nothing  io  painfully  fharpens  the  fenfibiiity  as  fuch, 
a  fali  in  life. 

Some  of  thefe  women  might  be  retrained  from  mar 
rying  by  a  proper  iplrit  or  dsiicacy,  and  others  may 
not  have  had  it  in  tiieir  power  to  eicupe  in  this  pitiful 
way  from  lervitiide  ;  is  not  tiiiit  government  then  very 
defective,  and  very  unmindful  of  the  happinefs  of  one 
half  of  its  n^m  >ers,  that  does  not  provide  for  hcneil, 
independent  v  omen,  by  encouraging  them  to  fill  re- 
fpeclable  flations  f  But  in  order  to  render  their  private 
virtue  a  public  benefit,  they  mull  have  a  civil  exigence 
in  the  flute,  married  orfmgle  ;  eife  we  (hall  continually 
fee  iorne  worthy  wom^n,  whole  ienfibility  has  been  ren 
dered  painfully  acute  by  undeferved  contempt,  droop 
like  '  the  ii;y  broken  down  by  a  plow-lhare.' 

It  is  a  DiCiunciiojy  truth,  yet  fuch  is  the  blefied  ef- 
fedl  orjciviUzationS  the  moil  relpeftable  women  are  the 
moll  opprelied;  and,  uniefs  they  have  underftandings  far 
fupeiior  to  ciie  common  run  of  underftandings,  taking 
in  both  iexes,  they  mull,  from  being  treated  like  con 
temptible  beings,  become  contemptible.  How  many 
women  thus  wafte  life  away,  the  prey  of  difcontent,  who 
might  have  pra&ifed  as  phyiicians,  regulated  a  farm,  ma 
naged  a  (hop,  and  flood  ereft,  Supported  by  their  own 
induflry,  inf.ead  of  hanging  their  heads  furcharged  with 
the  dew  of  fenfibiiity,  that  confumes  the  beauty  to  which 
it  at  firil  gave  iuilre ;  nay,  I  doubt  whether  pity  and  love 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  255 

are  fo  near  a-kin  as  poets  feign,  for  I  have  feldom  fee.n 
much  compailion  excited  by  the  helplefihefs  of  females, 
unlefs  they  were  fair;  then,  perhaps,  pity  was  the  foft 
handmaid  of  love,  or  the  harbinger  of  lufl. 

How  much  more  refpeclable  is  the  woman  who  earns 
her  own  bread  by  fulfilling  any  duty,  than  the  moil  ac 
compli  filed  beauty! — beauty  did  I  fiy: — fo  fenfible  am 
pi  of  the  beauty  of  moral  loveiinefs,  or  lae  harmonious 
propriety  that  attunes  the  paflions  of  a  well-regulated 
mind,  tint  I  blum  at  making  the  companion;  yet  I 
iigh  to  think  how  few  women  aim  at  attaining  this  re- 
fpeclability  by  withdrawing  from  the  giddy  whirl  of  plea- 
fure,  or  the  indolent  calm  that  fiupifies  the  good  ibri  of 
women  it  facks  in. 

Proud  of  their  weaknefs,  however,  they  rnuil  always 
,be  protected,  guarded  from  care,  and  all  the  rough  toils 
that  dignify  the  mind. — if  this  be  the  fiat  of  fate,  if  they 
will    make  themfelves   infignificant    and  co; 
Sweetly  to  walte   *  life  away,'  let  them  not  ex;  tvl  to  !,o 
?  valued  when  their  beauty  fades,  for  it  is  the 
|faireft  flowers  to  be  admired  and  pulled  to  pieces  by  iLe 
|carelefs  hand  that  plucked  them.  In  how  many  ways  do 
|l  wim,  from  the  pureil  benevolence,  to  imprefs  this  truth 
on  my  fex  ;  yet  I  fear  that  they  will  not  Men  to  a  truth, 
that  dear-bought  experience  has  brought  home  to  ma'ny 
an  agitated  bofom,  nor  willingly  refign  the  privileges  o'f 
.rank  and  fex  for  the  privileges  of  humanity,  to  which 
thofe  have  no  claim  who  do  not  difcharge  its  duties. 

Thofe  writers  are  particularly  ufeful,  in  my  opinion, 
"who  make  man  feel  for  man,  independent  of  the  ftatioa 
Z 


25&  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

.  '?.  fills,  or  the  drapery  of  factitious  fentiments.  I  then 
would  fain  convince  reafonable  men  of  the  importance 
of  fome  of  my  remarks,  and  prevail  on  them  to  weigh 
difpaffionately  the  whole  tenor  of  my  obfervations. — I 
appeal  to  their  underftandings ;  and,  as  a  fellow-crea 
ture  claim,  in  the  name  of  my  fex,  fome  intereft  in  their 
hearts.  I  entreat  them  to  affift  to  emancipate  their  com. 
panion  to  make  her  a  help  meet  for  them  ! 

Would  men  but  generouily  fnap  our  chains,  and  be 
content  with  rational  fellowfhip,  inftead  of  flavifh  obe 
dience,  they  would  find  us  more  obfervant  daughters, 
more  affectionate  fitters,  more  faithful  wives,  more  rea 
fonable  mothers — in  a  word,  better  citizens.  We  iliould 
then  love  them  with  true  affedton,  becaufe  we  mould 
learn  to  refpect  ourfelves ;  and  the  peace  of  mind  of  a 
worthy  man  would  not  be  interrupted  by  the  idle  vanity 
of  his  wife,  nor  his  babes  fent  to  neflle  in  a  ftrange  bofom, 
having  never  found  a  home  in  their  mother's. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  257 


CHAP.     X. 


Parental  affection, 

JTARENTAL  affeftion  is,  perhaps,  the  blindeft 
modification  of  perverfe  felf-love  ;  for  we  have  not, 

I  like  the  French,*  two  terms  to  diilinguifh  the  purfuit 
of  a  natural  and  reafonable  defire,  from  tlie  ignorant  cal- 

|  culations  of  weaknefs.  Parents  often  love  their  chil 
dren  in  the  moft  brutal  manner,  and  facrifice  every  re 
lative  duty  to  promote  their  advancement  in  the  world' 
To  promote,  fuch  is  the  perveriity  of  unprincipled 
prejudices,  the  future  welfare  of  the  very  beings  whofe 
prefent  exiitence  they  imbitter  by  the  moll  defpotic 
ilretch  of  power.  Power,  in  fact,  is  ever  true  to  its 
vital  principle,  for  in  every  fhape  it  would  reign  with 
out  controul  or  inquiry.  Its  throne  is  built  acrofs  a 
dark  abyfs,  which  no  eye  muft  dare  to  explore,  left  the 

*;  bafelefs  fabric  fnould  totter  under  inveltigation.  Obe 
dience,  unconditional  obedience,  is  the  catch- word  of 
tyrants  of  every  defcription,  and  to  render  '  afTurance 
doubly  fure,'  one  kind  of  defpotifm  fupports  another. 
Tyrants  would  have  caufe  to  tremble  if  reafon  were  to 
become  the  rule  of  duty  in  any  of  the  relations  of  life, 
for  the  light  might  fpread  till  perfect  day  appeared. 

a  And  when  it  did  appear,  how  would  men  fmilc  at  the 

*  £' amour  propre-     L*  amour  defoi  meme. 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

fight  of  bugbears  at  which  they  flarted  during  the  night 
of  ignorance,  or  the  twilight  of  timid  inquiry. 

Parental  affection,  indeed,  in  many  minds,  is  but  a 
pretext  to  tyrannize  where  it  can  be  done  with  impu 
nity,  for  only  good  and  wife  men  are  content  with  the 
refpect  that  will  bear  difcuiTion.  Convinced  that  they 
have  a  right  to  wh.it  they  infill  on,  they  do  not  fear 
rcafon,  or  dread  the  lifting  of  fubjects  that  recur  to 
natural  juftice  :  becaufethey  firmly  believe,  that  the  more 
enlightened  the  human  mind  becomes,  the  deeper  root 
viiJ  j.vil  and  rlrnple  principles  take.  They  do  not  reft 
ir:  c:2pcd:cn£-s,  or  grant  that  what  is  metuphyfically  true 
can  be  practically  falfe  ;  but  difiaining  the  mifts  of  the 
moment  they  calmly  wait  till  time,  functioning  innova 
tion,  filences  the  hifs  of  felfifnnefs  or  envy. 

If  the  power  of  reflecting  on  the  pail,  and  darting  the 
keen  eye  of  contemplation  into  futurity,  be  the  grand 
privilege  of  man,  it  muft  be  granted  that  fome  people 
enjoy  this  prerogative  in  a  very  limited  degree.  Every 
thing  now  appears  to  them  wrong;  and  not  able  to  dif- 
tinguifh  the  poiTible  from  the  monfirous,  they  fear  where 
no  fear  fnould  find  a  place,  running  from  the  light  of 
reafon  as  if  it  were  a  firebrand  ;  yet  the  limits  of  the 
pofiible  have  never  been  defined  to  flop  the  flurdy  inno 
vator's  hand. 

Woman,  however,  a  Have  in  every  fituation  to  preju 
dice,  feldom  exerts  enlightened  maternal  affection  ;  for 
fi;e  either  neglects  her  children,  or  fpoils  them  by  im 
proper  indulgence,  Befides,  the  affection  of  fome 
•women  for  their  children  is,  as  I  have  before  termed  it,? 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  259 

frequently  very  brutifh ;  for  it  eradicates  every  fpark  of 
humanity.  Juftice,  truth,  every  thing  is  facrifked  by 
thefe  Rebekahs,  and  for  the  fake  of  their  own  children 
they  violate  the  moft  facred  duties,  forgetting  the  com 
mon  relationfhip  that  binds  the  whole  family  on  earth 
together.  Yet,  realbn  feems  to  fay,  that  they  whofuffer 
one  duty,  or  affedion  to  fwallow  up  the  reft,  have  not 
fufficient  heart  or  mind  to  fulfil  that  one  confcientioufly. 
It  then  lofes  the  venerable  afpecl:  of  a  duty,  and  afTumes 
the  fantaftic  form  of  a  whim. 

As  the  care  of  children  in  their  infancy  is  one  of  the 
grand  duties  annexed  to  the  female  character  by  nature, 
this  duty  would  afford  many  forcible  arguments  for 
ftrengthening  the  female  underilanding,  if  it  were  pro 
perly  confidered. 

The  formation  of  the  mind  muft  be  begun  very  early, 
and  the  temper,  in  particular,  requires  the  moft  judicious 
attention — an  attention  which  women  cannot  pay  who 
only  love  their  children  becaufe  they  are  their  children, 
and  feek  no  further  for  the  foundation  of  their  duty,  than 
in  the  feelings  of  the  moment.  It  is  this  want  of  rcafon 
in  their  affeclions  which  makes  women  fo  ofcen  run  into 
extremes,  and  either  be  the  moft  fond  or  moft  carelefs 
and  unnatural  mothers. 

To  be  a  good  mother — a  woman  rnuft  have  fenfe,  and 
that  independence  of  mind  which  few  women  poifefs 
who  are  taught  to  depend  entirely  on  their  huibands. 
Meek  wives  are,  in  general,  foolidi  mothers  ;  wanting 
their  children  to  love  them  beft,  and  take  their  part,  in 
fecret,  againft  the  father,  who  is  held  upas  a  fcarecrow. 

23 


2OO  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

.if  they  are  to  be  punifhed,  though  they  have  offended 
the  mother,  the  father  rcuft  inflict  the  punifhmeut ;  he 
mult  be  the  j^dge  in  all  difputes :  but  I  (hall  more  fully 
difcufs  this  fubjeft  when  I  treat  of  private  education,  I 
now  only  mean  to  infill,  that  unlefs  the  underftanding 
of  woman  be  enlarged,  and  her  character  rendered  more 
firm,  by  beiag  allowed  to  govern  her  own  conduit,  {he 
will  never  have  fufficient  fenfe  or  command  of  temper 
to  manage  her  children  properly.  Her  parental  affec 
tion,  indeed,  fcarcely  deferves  the  name,  when  it  does 
not  had  her  to  fuckle  her  children,  becaufe  the  difcharge 
of  this  duly  is  equally  calculated  to  infpire  maternal 
iind  nil  J  affection  ;  and  it  is  the  indifpenfkble  duty  of 
men  and  women  to  fulfil  the  duties  which  give  birth  to 
affections  th.it  are  the  furelt  preservatives  againft  vice. 
Natural  uffe&ion,  as  it  is  termed,  I  believe  to  be  a  very 
\veuk  tie,  aff actions  mult  grow  out  of  the  habitual  exer- 
cife  of  a  mutual  fympathy  ;  and  what  fympathy  does  a 
mother  exercife  who  fends  her  babe  to  a  nurie,  and  only 
t.;kes  it  from  a  nurfe  to  fend  it  to  a  fchool  ? 

In  the  exerclft:  of  their  natural  feelings,  Providence 
has  furniihed  women  with  a  natural  fubititute  for  love, 
\vhen  the  lover  becomes  only  a  friend  and  mutual  con 
fidence  takes  place  of  overftrained  admiration — a  child 
then  gently  twilts  the  relaxing  cord,  and  a  mutual  care 
produces  a  new  mutual  fympathy. — But  a  child,  though 
a  pledge  of  affection,  will  not  enliven  it,  if  both  father 
find  mother  are  content  to  transfer  the  charge  to  hire 
lings  ;  for  they  who  do  their  duty  by  proxy  mould  not 
ffiurmur  if  they  mifs  the  reward  of  duty — parental  af- 
feftion  produces  filial  duty. 


EIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  2,6l 

CHAP.     XI. 
Duty  to  Parents. 

JL  HERE  feeems  to  be  an  indolent  propenfity  in 
man  to  make  profcription  always  take  place  of  region, 
and  to  place  every  duty  on  an  arbitrary  foundation. 
The  rights  of  kings  are  deduced  in  a  direcl  line  from 
the  King  of  kings  ;  and  that  of  parents  from  our  firil 
parent. 

Why  do  we  thus  go  back  for  principles  that  mould 
always  reft  on  the  fame  bafe,  and  have  the  fame  weight 
to-day  that  they  had  a  thoufand  ye-.rs  ago — and  not  a 
jot  more  ?  If  parents  difcharge  their  duty  they  have  a 
ftrong  hold  and  facred  claim  on  the  gratitude  of  their 
children  ;  but  few  parents  are  willing  to  receive  the 
refpeclful  affection  of  their  offspring  on  iuch  terms. 
They  demand  blind  obedience,  becaufe  they  do  not  me 
rit  a  reafonable  fervice  :  and  to  render  thefe  demands  of 
weaknefs  and  ignorance  more  binding,  a  myfterious 
fancHty  is  fpread  round  the  moil  arbitrary  principle  ; 
for  what  other  name  can  be  given  to  the  blind  duty 
of  obeying  vicious  or  weak  beings,  merely  becaule  they 
obeyed  a  powerful  inftiiivl  ? 

The  fimple  definition  of  the  reciprocal  duty,  which 
naturally  fubfifls  between  parent  and  cLilJ5n;  iy  l>f 
in  a  few  words  :  The  parent  who  pays  proper  attention 
to  helplefs  infancy  has  a   right  to  require  tnc  1  •  :;  .;  at 
tention  when  the  ieebienefs  of  age  comes  upon   him. 


262  VINDICATION    OF    TH£ 

But  to  fub jugate  a  rational  being  to  the  mere  will  of  ano 
ther,  after  he  is  of  age  to  aniwe/io  Society  for  his  own 
conduft,  is  a  molt  cruel  and  undue  ftretchof  power,  and 
perhaps  as  injurious  to  morality,  as  thofe  religious  iy{l 
terns  which  do  not  allow  right  and  \vrong  to  iiave  any 
exiilence,  but  in  the  Divine  will. 

I  never  knew  a  parent  who  had  paid  more  than  com 
mon  attention  to  his  children,  difregarded  ;*  on  the 
contrary,  the  early  habit  of  relying  almoft  implicitly  on 
the  opinion  of  a  refpe&ed  parent  is  not  eafily  mook, 
even  when  matured  reafon  convinces  the  child  that  his 
father  is  not  the  wifeft  man  in  the  world.  This  weak- 
nefs,  for  a  weaknefs  it  is,  though  the  epithet  amiable 
may  be  tacked  to  it,  a  reafonable  man  muft  fteel  himfelf 
again!! ;  for  the  abfurd  duty,  too  often  inculcated,  of 
obeying  a  parent  only  on  account  of  his  being  a  parent, 
fhackles  the  mind,  and  prepares  it  for  a  flavilh  fubmif- 
fion  to  any  power  but  reafon. 

I  diilingaifh  between  the  natural  and  accidental  duty 
due  to  parents. 

The  parent  who  feduloufly  endeavours  to  form  the 
heart  and  enlarge  the  underftanding  of  his  child,  lias 
given  that  dignity  to  the  difcharge  of  a  duty,  common 
to  the  whole  animul  world,  that  only  reafon  can  give. 
This  is  the  parental  *ffec"tion  of  humanity,  and  leaves  in- 
ftinclive  natural  affedion  far  behind.  Such  a  parent  ac 
quires  all  the  rights  of  the  moil  facred  friendlhip,  and 
his  advice,  even  when  his  child  is  advanced  in  life,  de 
mands  ferious  cosifideratkm. 

*  Dr.  Jobiifon  makes  the  fame  olftrvatlon. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  £63 

With  refpeft  to  marriage,  though  after  one  and  twenty 
a  parent  feems  to  have  no  right  to  withhold  his  con- 
fent  on  any  account ;  yet  twenty  years  of  folicitude  call 
for  a  return,  and  the  ion  ought,  at  leail  to  promife  not 
to  marry  for  two  or  three  years,  mould  the  objecl  of 
his  choice  not  entirely  meet  with  the  approbation  of 
his  firft  friend. 

But,  refpecl  for  parents  is, generally  fpeaking,  amuch 
more  debating  principle  ;  it  is  only  a  felfifli  refpecl  for 
property.  The  father  who  is  blindly  obeyed,  is  obeyed 
from  meer  weaknefs,  or  from  motives  that  degrade  the 
human  character. 

A  great  proportion  of  the  mifery  that  wanders,  in 
hideous  forms  around  the  world,  is  allowed  to  rife 
from  the  negligence  of  parents ;  and  ftill  thefe  are  the 
people  who  are  moft  tenacious  of  what  they  term  a  na 
tural  right,  though  it  be  fubverfive  of  the  birth-right 
of  man,  the  right  of  acling  according  to  the  direction  of 
his  own  reafon. 

I  have  already  very  frequently  had  occafion  to  ob- 
ferve,  that  vicious  or  indolent  people  are  always  eager 
to  profit  by  enforcing  arbitrary  privileges ;  and  gene 
rally  in  the  fame  proportion  as  they  neglecl  the  dif- 
charge  of  the  duties  which  alone  render  the  privileges 
reafonable,.  This  is  at  the  bottom,  a  dictate  of  common 
fenfe,  or  the  inftincl:  of  felf-defence,  peculiar  to  igno 
rant  weaknefs ;  refembling  that  infiindt,  which  makQs  a 
fim  muddy  the  water  it  fwims  in  to  elude  its  enemy,  in- 
ftead  of  boldly  facing  it  in  the  clear  ftream. 

From  the  clear  ftream  of  argument,  indeed,  the  fup- 


264  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

porters  of  prefcription,  of  every  denomination,  fly;  and 
taking  refuge  in  thedarknefs,  which,  in  the  language  of 
fublime  poetry,  has  beenfuppofed  to  furround  the  throne 
of  Omnipotence,  they  dare  to  demand  that  implicit  re-' 
fpec~l  which  is  only  due  to  His  unfearchable  ways.  But, 
let  me  not  be  thought  prefumptuous,  the  darknefs  which 
hides  our  God  from  us,  only  refpefts  fpeculative  truths — 
it  never  obfcures  moral  ones,  they  mine  clearly,  for  God 
is  light,  and  never,  by  the  conftitution  of  our  nature, 
requires  the  difcharge  of  a  duty,  the  reafonablenefs  of 
which  does  not  beam  on  us  when  we  open  our  eyes. 

The  indolent  parent  of  high  rank  may,  it  is  true,  ex 
tort  a  mow  of  refpecl  from  his  child,  and  females  x>n 
the  continent  are  particularly  fubjec~l  to  the  views  of 
their  families,  who  never  think  of  confulting  their  in 
clination,  or  providing  for  the  comfort  of  the  poor  vic 
tims  of  their  pride.  The  confequence  is  notorious  ; 
thefe  dutiful  daughters  become  adultereiTes,  and  neglect 
the  education  of  their  children,  from  whom  they,  in 
their  turn,  exact  the  fame  kind  of  obedience. 

Females,  it  is  true,  in  all  countries,  are  too  much  un 
der  the  dominion  of  their  parents  ;  and  few  parents 
think  of  addrefiing  their  children  in  the  following  man 
ner,  though  it  is  in  this  reafonable  way  that  Heaven 
feems  to  command  the  whole  human  race.  It  is  your 
intereil  to  obey  me  till  you  can  judge  for  yourfelf;  and 
the  Almighty  Father  of  all  has  implanted  an  affection 
in  me  to  ferve  as  a  guard  to  you  whillr.  your  reafon  is 
unfolding  ;  but  when  your  mind  arrives  at  maturity,  you 
muit  only  obey  me,  or  rather  refpedlmy  opinions,  fo  far 


as  they  coincide  wic'ii  :'ie  ii^  i;  oi-.t  is  breaking  in  on 
your  own  mind. 

A  Hav^ifh  bondage  to  parents  cramps  every  faculty  of 
the  mind  ;  and  Mr.  Locke  very  judicially  obferves, 
that  <  if  the  mind  be  curbed  and  humbled  too  much  in 

•  children;  if  their  Ipirits  be  abafed  and  broken  much 

•  by  too  Uriel  an  hand  over  them ;    they  iofe  all  their 

•  vigour  and  induflry.'     This  ftric~t  hand  may,  in  fome 
degree,  account  for  the  weaknefs  of  women,  for  girls, 
from   various  caufes,  are  more  kept  down  by  their  pa 
rents,    in  every  fenie   of  the  word,  than   boys.     The 
duty  expe&ed  from  them   is,  like  all   the   duties  arbi 
trarily  impofed  on  women,  more  from  a  fenfe  of  pro 
priety,  more  out  of  refpecl  for   decorum,  than  reafon ; 
and  thus  taught  flaviftily  to  fubmit  to  their  parents,  they 
are  prepared  for  the  flavery  of  marriage.     I  may  be 
told  that  a  number  of  women  are  not  Haves  in  the  mar- 

,riage  ftate.  True,  but  they  then  become  tyrants  ;  for 
it  is  not  rational  freedom,  but  a  lawlefs  kind  of  power, 
refembling  the  authority  exercifed  by  the  favourites  of 
abfolute  monarchs,  which  they  obtain  by  debating  means. 
I  do  not,  like  wife,  dream  of  infmuating,  that  either  boys 
or  girls  are  always  flaves,  I  only  infill,  that  when  they 
are  obliged  to  fubmit  to  authority  blindly,  their  facul 
ties  are  weakened,  and  their  tempers  rendered  impe 
rious  or  abjecl.  I  alfo  lament,  that  parents  indolently 
availing  themfelves  of  a  fuppofed  privilege,  damp  the 
firft  faint  glimmering  of  reafon  rendering  at  the  fame 
time  the  duty,  which  they  are  fo  anxious  to  enforce, 
an  empty  name  ;  becaufe  they  will  not  let  it  reft  on  the 


266  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

only  bafis  on  which  a  duty  can  reft  fecurely  :  for,  un- 
lefs  it  be  founded  on  knowledge,  it  cannot  gain  fufft- 
cient  ftrength  to  refift  the  fqualls  of  paffion,  or  the 
filent  Tapping  of  ielf-iove.  But  it  is  not  the  parents  who 
have  given  the  fureil  proof  of  their  affedion  for  their 
children,  or,  to  fpeak  more  properly,  who  by  fulfilling 
their  duty,  have  allowed  a  natural  parental  affe&ion 
to  take  root  in  their  hearts,  the  child  of  excifed  fym- 
paiiiy  and  realon,  and  not  the  over-weening  offspring 
of  ielfifh  pride,  \\  ho  moil  vehemently  iriift  en  their 
children  iubmitting  to  their  will,  merely  bccaufe  it  is 
their  will.  Cri  the  contrary,  the  parent  who  fets  a 
good  example,  patiently  lets  that  example  work  ;  and  it 
ffldom  fails  to  produce  its  natural  effect — filial  refpeft. 

Children  cannot  be  taught  too  early  to  fubmit  to 
reafon,  the  true  definition  of  that  neceffity,  which  Rouf- 
feau  infifted  on,  without  defining  it ;  for  to  fubmit  to 
reafon,  is  to  fubmit  to  the  nature  of  things,  and  to  that 
God  who  formed  them  fo,  to  promote  our  real  intereft. 
Why  mould  the  minds  of  children  be  warped  as  they 
juft  begin  to  expand,  only  to  favour  the  indolence  of  pa 
rents,  who  infift  on  a  privilege  without  being  willing  to 
pay  the  price  fixed  by  nature  ?  I  have  before  had  occa- 
fion  to  obferve,  that  a  right  always  includes  a  dufy,  and 
I  think  it  may,  likevvife  fairly  be  inferred,  that  they 
forfeit  the  right,  who  do  not  fulfil  the  duty. 

It  is  eafier,  I  grant,  to  command  than  reafon ;  but 
it  does  not  follow  from  hence,  that  children  cannot  com 
prehend  the  reafon  why  they  are  made  to  do  certa'n 
things  habitually  ;  for,  from  a  Heady  adherence  to  a  few 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAT7.  2O/; 

Ample  principles  of  conduft,  flows  that  faints  ry  po-.ver, 
which  a  judicious  parent  gradually  gains  over  a  child's 
mind.  And  this  power  becomes  ftrong  indeed,  if  tem 
pered  by  an  even  difplay  of  affection  brought  home  to 
the  child's  heart,  For,  I  believe,  as  a  general  rule,  it 
muft  be  allowed,  that  the  affection  which  we  infplr^  al- 
ways  refembles  that  we  cultivate  ;  fo  that  natural  af 
fections,  which  have  been  fappofed  almoft  dJiunci  from 
reafon,  may  be  found  more  nearly  connected  with  judg 
ment  than  is  commonly  allowed.  N,;y,  as  anoe  iei 
of  the  neceffity  of  cultivating  the  fe  .iale  underfill; 
it  is  but  juft  to  obferve,  that  the  aireittoiis  feem  to  have 
a  kind  of  animal  capricioufnefs  when  they  merely  re.lde 
in  the  heart. 

It  is  the  irregular  exsrcife  of  parental  authority  that 
•firft  injures  the  mind,  and  to  thefe  irregularities  girls 
are  more  fubject  than  boys.  The  will  of  thole  who 
never  allow  their  will  to  be  difputed,  unle.o 
pen  to  be  in  a  good  humour,  wJien  they  rel 
tionally,  is  almofl  always  unreafonable.  To  elude  this 
arbitrary  authority,  girls  very  early  learn  the  leiibns 
which  they  afterwards  practHe  on  tneir  hufbands  ;  for 
I  have  frequently  feen  a  little  (harp-faced  mifs  rule  a 
whole  family,  excepting  that  now  and  then  mamma's 
anger  will  burft  out  of  fome  accidental  cloud  —  either 
her  hair  was  ill-drefled,*  or  ihe  had  loll  more  money 
[•at  cards,  the  night  before,  than  me  was  willing  to  own 
to  her  hufband  ;  or  fome  fuch  moral  caufe  of  aner. 


*  I  myfelf  beard  a  little  girl  once  fa\>  f-i  afirvant,  '  My  mamma. 
'  las  been  fcolding  me  f.ne'y  tb'n  tnorn:t:g,  le  caufe  tier  hair  i-.'a*  not 
1  Vreftd  to  pL-afe  her*  Though  this  remark  was  fet  t,  it  was  jujl. 
A  id  ivhat  refpccl  could  a  girl  acjuire  for  fuch  a  parent^  without  doing 
^>9te'nff  if  rcafo/i  ?  A  a 


263  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

After  observing  failles  cf  this  kind,  I  have  been  led 
into  a  melancholy  tr.iin  of  reileclion  refpeiUng  females, 
concluding  that  when  their  mil  affection  mull  lead  them 
alhuy,  or  make  their  duties  chfh  till  they  reft  on  mere 
whims  and  cuiloms,  little  can  be  expeded  from  them 
as  the/ advance  in  life.  How,  indeed,  can  an  inftru&or 
remedy  this  evil  ?  for  to  teach  them  virtue  on  any  foiid 
principle  is  to  teach  them  to  defpife  their  parents.  Chil 
dren  cannot,  ought  not,  to  be  taught  to  make  allowance 
for  the  faults  of  their  parents,  becaufe  every  fuch  al 
lowance  weakens  the  force  of  reafoa  in  their  minds, 
and  makes  them  frill  more  indulgent  to  their  own.  It 
is  one  of"  the  moil  fublime  virtues  of  maturity  that  leads 
us  to  be  fevere  with  refpeclto  ourfelves,  and  forbearing 
to  others;  but  children  mould  only  be  taught  the  fimple 
virtues,  for  if  they  begin  too  early  to  make  allowance  for 
human  paffions  and  manners,  they  wear  oft  the  fine  edge 
of  the  criterion  by  which  they  mould  regulate  their 
o\vn,  and  become  unjuft  in  the  fame  proportion  as  they 
grow  indulgent, 

The  affections  of  children,  and  weak  people,  are  al 
ways  feifiihj  they  love  others,  becaufe  others  love  them, 
and  not  on  account  of  their  virtues.  Yet,  till  efleem 
and  love  are  blended  together  in  the  nrft  affection,  and 
reafon  made  the  foundation  of  the  firft  duty,  morality 
will  Humble  at  the  threfhold,  But,  till  fociety  is  very 
diiTerenrly  conflituted,  parents,  I  fear,  will  ftill  infift  on 
being  obeyed,  becaufe  they  will  be  obeyed,  and  con- 
ib.ntly  er,d*avour  to  fettle  that  power  on  a  Divins 
right,  which  will  not  bear  the  investigation  ofrei.fon. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  269 

C  H  A  P.     XII. 
On   National  Education. 

JL  HE  good  efFe&s  refulting  from  attention  to  private 
education  will  ever  be  very  confined,  and  the  parent 
who  really  puts  his  own  hand  to  the  plow,  will  always, 
in  fome  degree,  be  di {appointed,  till  education  become 
a  grand  national  concern.  A  man  cannot  retire  into  a 
defert  with  his  child,  and  if  he  c.i.1,  he  could  not  bring 
himfelf  back  to  childhood,  and  become  the  proper 
friend  and  play-fellow  of  an  infant  or  youth.  And  when 
children  are  confined  to  the  fociety  of  men  and  women, 
they  very  foon  acquire  that  kind  of  premature  manhood 
which  flops  the  growth  of  every  vigorous  power  of 
mind  or  body.  In  order  to  open  their  faculties  they 
mould  be  excited  to  think  for  themfelves;  and  this  cm 
only  be  done  by  mixing  a  number  of  children  together, 
and  making  them  jointly  purfue  the  fame  objects. 

A  child  very  foon  contracts  a  benumbing  indolence 
of  mind,  which  he  has  feldom  fufficient  vigour  to  fliake 
off,  when  he  only  afks  a  queilion  inftead  of  feeking  for 
information,  and  then  relies  implicitly  on  the  anfwer 
he  receives.  With  his  equals  in  are  this  could  never 
be  the  cafe,  and  the  fubjeds  of  inquiry,  though  they 
might  be  influenced,  would  not  be  entirely  under  tl.e 
direction  of  men,  who  frequently  damp,  if  not  deftrcy 
abilities,  by  bringing  them  forward  too  hallily  :  and 
too  hailily  they  will  infallibly  be  brought  forward,  if 
A  a  2 


270  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

the  child  be  confined  to  the  fociety  of  a  man,  however 
fugacious  that  man  may  be. 

Befides.  in  youth  the  feeds  of  every  affe£Uon  fhould  be 
ibwR,  and  the  refpeftful  regard,  which  is  felt  for  a  parent, 
is  very  different  from  the  focial  affections  that  are  to 
conditute  the  happinefs  of  life  as  it  advances.  Of  thefe, 
equality  is  the  bafts,  and  an  intercourfe  of  fenti  merits 
unclogged  by  tlie  obfervant  ferioufhefs  which  prevents 
difputaticn,  though  it  may  not  enforce  fubmifiion.  Let 
a  child  have  ever  fuch  an  affection  for  his  parent,  he 
will  alwavs  languifli  to  play  and  chat  with  children  ;  ^ 
and  the  very  refpe&  which  he  entertains,  for  filial 
cfieem  always  has  a  dafn  of  fear  mixed  with  it,  will,  if, 
it  do  not  teach  him  cunning,  at  leail  prevent  him  from 
pouring  out  the  little  fecrets  v/hich  firft  open  the  hearts; 
to  friencUhip  and  confidence,  gradually  leading  to  more 
expanfive  benevolence.  Added  to  this,  he  will  never 
acquire  that  frank  ingenuoufnefs  of  behaviour,  which 
young  people  can  only  attain  by  being  frequently  in 
fociety,  where  they  dare  to  fpeak  what  they  think  ', 
neither  afraid  of  being  reproved  for  their  prefumption, 
nor  laughed  at  for  their  folly. 

Forcibly  imprelTed  by  the  reflexions  which  the  fight 
of  ichools,  as  they  are  at  prefent  conduced,  naturally  \ 
faggefled,  I  have  formerly  delivered  my  opinion  rather 
warmly  in  favour  of  a  private  education ;  but  further 
experience  has' led  me  to  view  the  fubje6l  in  a  different 
light.  I  ftill,  however,  think  fchoole,  as  they  are  now 
regulated,  the  hot-beds  of  vice  and  folly,  and  the 
knowledge  of  human  nature,  fuppofed  to  be  attained 
these,  merely  cunning  feiiifhnefs. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  2J I 

At  fchool  boys,  become  gluttons  and  flovens,  and  m- 
fle;.d  of  cultivating  domeftic  affections,  very  early  ruffi 
into  the  libertinifm  which  deftroys  the  conftitution  be 
fore  it  is  formed  ;  hardening  the  heart  as  it  weakens 
the  underftanding. 

I  mould,  in  fkc~l,  be  averfe  to  boarding -fchools,  if  it 
were  for  no  other  reafon  than  the  unfettled  flate  of 
mind  which  the  expectation  of  the  vacations  produce. 
On  thefe  the  children's  thoughts  are  fixed  with  eager 
anticipating  hopes,  for  at  hail,  to  fpeuk  \vith  mode 
ration,  half  of  the  time,  and  when  they  arrive  they  are 
fpent  in  total  diflipation  and  bealtiy  indulgence. 

But,  on  the  contrary,  when  they  are  brought  up  at 
home,  though  they  may  purfue  a  plan  of  ftudyin  a  more 
orderly  manner  than  can  b^  adopted,  when  near  a 
.fourth  part  of  the  year  is  actually  fpent  in  idlenefs,  ar  d 
as  much  more  in  regret  and  anticipation  ;  yet  they 
there  acquire  too  high  an  opinion  of  their  own  import 
ance,  from  being  allowed  to  tyrannize  over  fervants 
and  from  the  anxiety  expreffed  by  moil  mothers,  on  the 
fcore  of  manners,  who  eager,  to  teach  the  accompliili- 
jnents  of  a  gentleman,  ftifle,  in  their  birth,  the  virtues  of 
a  man.  Thus  brought  into  company  when  they  ought 
to  be  feriojfly  employed,  and  treated  like  men  when 
they  are  ftill  boys,  they  become  vain  and  effeminate. 

The  only  way  to  avoid  two  extremes  equally  injurious 
to  morality,  would  be  to  contrive  fome  way  of  com 
bining  a  public  and  private  education.  Thus  to  make 
men  citizens,  two  natural  Heps  might  be  taken,  which 
feem  diredly  to  lead  to  the  defired  point;  for  the 
Aa  3 


272  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

domeftic  affections,  that  firil  open  the  heart  to  the  va 
rious  modifications  of  humanity  would  be  cultivated, 
whilft  the  children  were  neverthelefs  allowed  to  fpend 
great  part  of  their  time,  on  terms  of  equality,  with 
other  children. 

I  ilill  recollect,  with  pleafure,  the  country  day-fchoolj 
where  a  boy  trudged  in  the  morning,  wet  or  dry,  carry 
ing  his  books,  and  his  dinner,  if  it  were  at  a  confider  • 
able  diftsnce  ;  a  fervant  did  not  then  lead  mafter  by  the 
hand,  for,  w'ler.  he  had  once  put  on  coat  and  breeches,  he 
was  allowed  to  fhift  for  himfelf,  and  return  alone  in  the 
evening  to  recount  the  feats  of  the  day  clofc  at  the  pa-- 
renuJ  knee.  His  father's  houfe  was  his  home,  and 
was  ever  after  fondly  remembered  ;  nay,  I  appeal  to 
fome  fuperior  men  who  were  educated  in  this  manner, 
whether  the  recollection  of  fome  fhady  lane  where  they 
conned  their  leffon ;  or,  of  fome  ilyle,  where  they  fat 
making  a  kite,  or  mending  a  bat,  has  not  endeared  their 
country  to  them  ? 

Bat,  what  boy  ever  recolleded  with  pleafure  the  years 
he  fpent  in  clofe  confinement,  at  an  academy  near  Lon~ 
don  ?  unlefs,  indeed,  he  mould,  by  chance,  remember 
the  poor  fcare-crow  of  an  uflier,  whom  he  tormented ; 
or,  the  t-irtnian,  from  whom  he  caught  a  cake,  to  de 
vour  it  w  1 1  the  cattiOi  appetite  of  felfiihnefs.  At  board 
ing  fchools  of  every  defcription,  the  relaxation  of  the 
junior  boys  is  mifchief ;  and  of  the  fenior,  vice.  Befides, 
in  great  fchools,  what  can  be  more  prejudicial  to  the 
moral  character,  than  the  fyfiern  of  tyranny  and  abjeft 
flavery  which  is  eilablifhed  amongil  the  boys,  to  fay 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  2J3 

nothing  of  the  flavery  to  forms,  which  makes  religion 
worfe  than  a  farce  ?  For  what  good  can  be  expecled  from 
the  youth  who  receives  the  facrament  of  the  Lord's 
fupper,  to  avoid  forfeiting  half-a-guinea,  which  lie 
probably  afterwards  fpends  in  fome  fenfual  manner? 
Half  the  employment  of  the  youths  is  to  elude  the  ne~ 
ceffity  of  attending  public  woriliip;  and  well  they  may, 
for  fuch  a  conftant  repetition  of  the  fame  thing  mufl  be 
a  very  irkfome  reltraint  on  their  natural  vivacity.  As 
thefe  ceremonies  have  the  moll  fatal  effect  on  their  morals, 
and  as  a  ritual  performed  by  the  lips,  when  the  heart 
and  mind  are  far  away,  is  not  now  flored  up  by  our 
church  as  a  bank  to  draw  on  for  the  fees  of  the  poor 
fouls  in  purgatory,  why  mould  they  not  be  abolimed  ? 

But  the  fear  of  innovation,  in  this  country,  extends 
*to  every  thing. — This  is  only  a  covert  fear,  the  appre- 
henfive  timidity  of  indolent  Hugs,  who  guard,  by  flim- 
ing  it  over,  the  mug  place,  whica  they  coniider  in  the 
light  of  an  hereditary  eilate  ;  and  e;tt,  drink,  and  enjoy 
thcmfelves,  inflead  of  fulfilling  the  duties,  excepting  a 
few  empty  forms,  for  which  it  was  endowed.  Thefe 
are  the  people  who  moil  ilrenuoufly  infill  on  the  will  of 
.the  founder  being  obfervcd,  crying  out  againil  all  re 
formation,  as  if  it  were  a  violation  of  juflice.  I  am 
now  alluding  particularly  to  the  relics  of  popery  re 
tained  in  our  colleges,  when  the  proteil.nt  members 
•feem  to  be  fuch  ilickiers  for  the  eiiabliPned  church;  but 
the:r  zeal  never  makes  them  lole  fight  of  the  fpoil  of 
ignorance,  which  rapacious  prieils  of  uperil  tious  me 
mory  have  fcraped  together.  No,  wile  in  their  gene- 


274-  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

ration,  they  venerate  the  prefcriptive  right  of  pofleiHon, 
as  a  flrong  hold,  and  {till  let  the  iluggiih  bell  tingle  to 
prayers,  as  during  the  days,  when  the  elevation  of  tha 
holt  was  fuppofed  to  atone  for  the  fins  of  the  people, 
left  one  reformation  fhould  lead  to  another,  and  the 
fpirit  kill  the  letter,  Thefe  Romifli  cuiloms  have  the 
moft  baneful  effsft  on  the  morals  of  our  clergy  ;  for 
the  idle  vermin  who  two  or  three  times  a  day  perform, 
in  the  moil  flovenly  manner,  a  fcrvice  which  they  think 
ufelefs,  but  call  their  duty,  foon  loofe  a  fenfe  of  duty. 
At  college,  forced  to  attend  or  evade  public  worfhip, 
they  acquire  an  habitual  contempt  for  the  very  fervice, 
the  performance  of  which  is  to  enable  them  to  live  in 
idlenefs.  It  is  mumbled  over  as  an  affair  of  bufmefs, 
as  a  ftupid  boy  repeats  his  talk,  and  frequently  the 
college  cant  efcapes  from  the  preacher  the  moment  after 
he  has  left  the  pulpit,  and  even  whilft  he  is  eating  the 
dinner  which  he  earned  in  fuch  a  difhoneft  manner. 

Nothing,  indeed,  can  be  more  irreverent  than  the 
cathedral  fervice  as  it  is  now  performed  in  this  country, 
nor  does  it  contain  a  fet  of  weaker  men  than  thofe  who 
are  the  fhves  of  this  childifti  routine.  A  difgufdng 
Skeleton  of  the  former  ftate  is  flill  exhibited  :  but  ail  the 
foltmnity  th.it  interelled  the  imagination,  if  it  did  not 
purify  the  heart,  is  ftripped  off.  The  performance  of 
high  mafs  on  the  continent  muft  imprefs  every  mind, 
where  a  {park  of  f-incy  glows,  wiih  that  awful  melan 
choly,  that  fubiime  tendernefs,  fo  near  a-kln  to  devotion. 
I  do  not  fay,  that  thefe  devotional  feelings  are  of  more 
life,  in  a  moral  fenfe,  than  any  other  emotion  of  tafte ; 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  275 

but  I  contend,  that  the  theatrical  pomp  which  gratifies 
our  fenfes,  is  to  be  preferred  to  the  cold  parade  that  in- 
fults  the  underilanding  without  reaching  the  heart. 

Amongft  remarks  on  national  education,  fuch  obfer- 
vations  cannot  be  mifplaced,  efpecially  as  the  fupporters 
of  thefe  ercablifhrnents,  degenerated  into  puerilities,  af 
fect  to  be  the  champions  of  religion.  Religion,  pure 
fource  of  comfort  in  this  vale  of  tears  !  how  haft  thy 
clear  Itream  been  muddied  by  the  dabblers,  who  have 
prefumptuoufly  endeavoured  to  confine  in  one  narrow 
channel,  the  living  waters  that  ever  now  towards  God 
— the  fublime  ocean  of  exiftence  !  What  would  life  be 
without  that  peace  which  the  love  of  God,  when  built 
on  humanity,  alone  can  impart  ?  Every  earthly  affection 
turns  back,  at  intervals,  to  prey  upon  the  heart  that 
feeds  it ;  and  the  pureft  effufions  of  benevolence,  often 
rudely  damped  by  men,  muft  mount  as  a  free-will  offer 
ing  to  Him  who  gave  them  birth,  whofe  bright  image 
they  faintly  reflect. 

In  public  fchools,  however,  religion,  confounded  with 
irkfome  ceremonies  and  unreafonable  reflraints,  afTames 
the  moil  ungracious  afpect  :  not  the  fober  auftere  one 
that  commands  refpecl  whilft  it  infpires  fear  ;  but  a  lu 
dicrous  caft,  that  ferves  to  point  a  pun,  For,  in  fact, 
moft  of  the  good  ftories  and  fmart  things  which  enliven 
the  fpirits  that  have  been  concentrated  at  whift,  are 
manufactured  out  of  the  incidents  to  which  the  very 
men  labour  to  give  a  droll  turn  who  countenance  the 
abufe  to  live  on  the  fpoil. 

There  is  not,  perhaps,  in  the  kingdom,  a  more  dog- 


276  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

matical  or  luxurious  fet  of  men,  than  the  pedantic  ty 
rants  who  refide  in  colleges  and  prefide  at  public  fchools. 
The  vacations  are  equally  injurious  to  the  moral'?  of  the 
mailers  and  pupils,  and  the  intercourfe,  which  the  for 
mer  keep  up  with  the  nobility,  introduces  the  fame 
vanity  and  extravagance  into  their  families,  which  ba- 
niih  domeflic  duties  and  comforts  from  the  lordly  man- 
fion,  whofe  ilate  is  awkwardly  aped  on  a  {mailer  fcale. 
The  boys,  who  live  at  a  great  expence  with  the  mailers 
and  aiTiilants,  are  never  domeiUcated,  though  placed 
there  for  that  purpofe  ;  for,  after  a  iilent  dinner,  they 
fwailow  a  haily  glafs  of  wine,  and  retire  to  plan  fome 
mifchievous  trick,  or  to  ridicule  the  perfon  or  manners 
of  the  very  people  they  have  juil  been  cringing  to,  and 
whom  they  ought  to  confider  as  the  reprefentatives  of- 
their  parents. 

Can  it  then  be  a  matter  of  furprife,  that  boys  become 
fel£ih  and  vicious  who  are  thus  (hut  out  from  focia.1  con- 
verfe  ?  or  that  a  mitre  often  graces  the  brow  of  one  of 
thefe  diligent  parlors  ? 

The  defire  of  living  in  the  fame  ilyle,  as  the  rank  juil 
above  them,  infects  each  individual  and  every  clafs  of  peo 
ple,  and  meannefs  is  the  concomitant  of  this  ignoble  am 
bition?  but  thofe  profeiTions  are  moil  debaling  whofe 
ladder  is  patronage  ;  yet  out  of  one  of  thefe  profeiTions 
the  tutors  of  youth  are  in  general  chofen.  But,  can  the/ 
be  expccled  to  infpire  independent  fentiments,  whofe 
conduct  muft-be  regulated  by  the  cautious  prudence  th.it 
is  ever  on  the  watch  for  preferment? 

So  far,  however,  from  thinking  of  the  morals  of  boys* 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  277 

;  I  have  heard  feverai  mailers  of  fchools  argue,  that  they 
eniy  undertook  to  leach  Latin  and  Greek  ;  and  th:c  they 
I  had  fulfilled  their  duty,  by  lending  io-me  guod  fcnoiara  to 
college. 

A  few  good  fcholars,  I  grant,  may  have  besn  formed 
by  emulation  and  discipline  ;  bat,  to  bring  forward  thefe 
clever  boys,  the  health  and  morals  of  a  number  have  been 
facrillced.  The  ions  of  our  gentry  and  wealthy  com 
moners  are  moitly  educated  at  thefe  ieminaries,  and  will 
any  one  pretend  to  aflert,  that  tne  majority,  making 
every  allowance,  come  under  the  description  of  toler 
able  fcholars  ? 

It  is  not  for  the  benefit  of  fociety  that  a  few  brilliant 
men  mould  be  brought  foiward  at  the  expence  of  the 
multitude.  It  is  true,  that  great  men  (eem  to  Hart  up,  as 
great  revolutions  occur,  at  proper  intervals,  to  reftore 
order,  and  to  blow  afide  the  ciouds  that  thicken  over  the 
face  of  truth  ;  but  let  more  reatbn  and  virtue  prevail  in 
fociety,  and  thefe  ftrong  winds  would  not  be  neceffary. 
Public  education,  of  every  denomination,  mould  be  di 
rected  to  form  citizens  ;  but  if  you  wifti  to  make  good 
itizens,  you  muft  firft  exercife  the  affections  of  a  fon 
and  a  brother.  This  is  the  only  way  to  expand  the 
leart ;  for  public  affections,  as  well  as  public  virtues, 
muft  ever  grow  out  of  the  private  character,  or  they  ace 
merely  meteors  that  moot  athwart  a  dark  fky,  and  dif- 
appear  as  they  are  gazed  at  and  admired. 

Few,  I  believe,  have  had  much  affedion  for  mankind, 
who  did  not  firft  love  their  parents,  their  brothers,  filters, 
and  even  the  domeftic  brutes,  whom  they  firft  played 


278  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

•with.  The  ex^ercife  of  youthful  fympathies  forms  the 
n.i.r.J  temperature  ;  and  ii  is  the  recollection  of  thefe 

firil  affeuions  and  purfuits,  that  gives  life  to  thofe  that 
are  af cer wards  more  under  trie  direction  of  reaion.  In 
youth,  the  fondel  frietidihips  are  formed,  the  genial 
juices  mounting  at  the  iante  time,  kindly  mix  ;  or, 
rathei  :he  iie^rt,  tempered  for  the  reception  of  friend, 
fhip,  is  accuftomed  to  letk  for  pleafure  in  fomething 
more  noble  than  the  chuiiifh  gratification  of  appetite. 

In  order  then  to  infpire  a  love  of  home  and  dcmeftic 
pleafures,  children  ought  to  be  educated  at  home,  for 
riotous  holidays  only. make  them  fond  of  home  for  their 
own  fakes.  •  Yet,  the  vacations,  \vhich  do  not  fofter  do- 
meltic  affections,  continually  diflurb  the  courfe  of  iludy, 
and  render  any  plan  of  improvement  abortive  which  in 
cludes  temperance  ;  ftill,  were  they  abolifhed,  children 
would  be  entirely  feparated  from  their  parents,  and  I 
question  whether  they  would  become  better  citizens  by,. 
facrificing  the  preparatory  Hifeftions,  by  deftroying  the 
force  of  relationmips  that  render  the  marriage  Hate  as, 
neceffary  as  refr;edable.  But  if  a  private  education  pro-, 
duces  felf-importance,  or  iiifulates  a  man  in  his  family, 
the  evil  is  only  fhifted,  not  remedied. 

This  train  of  reafoning  brings  me  back  to  a  fubjedl, 
on  which  1  mean  to  dwell,  the  neceffity  of  eftablifning 
prc.(  tr  d  .y-khools. 

Eut  theie  mould  be  national  eftablilhments,  for  wliilft 
fchool-mafters  are  dependent  on  the  caprice  of  parents! 
little  exertion  can  be  expected  from  them,  mere  than  isj 
neceiiary  to  pleafc  ignorant  people.     Indeed,  the  ne- 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN.  279 

ceffity  or  a  mailer's  giving  the  parents  feme  fcrnple  of 
the  boys  abilities,  which  during  the  vacation,  is  i~hewn 
to  every  vifitor,*  is  productive  of  more  mifchief  than 
would  at  firft  be  fappofed.  For  they  are  feldom  done 
entirely,  to  fpeak  with  moderation,  by  the  child  itfelf ; 
thus  the  mafter  countenances  falfehoods,  or  winds  the 
poor  machine  up  to  fome  extraordinary  exertion,  that 
injures  the  wheels,  and  {lops  the  progrefs  of  gradual 
improvement.  The  memory  is  loaded  with  unintelli 
gible  words,  to  make  a  mew  of,  without  the  undcr- 
flanding's  acquiring  any  dilUncl  ideas  :  but  only  that 
education  deferves  emphatically  to'be  termed  cultivation 
of  mind,  which  teaches  young  people  how  to  begin  to 
think.  The  imagination  mould  not  be  allowed  to  de 
bauch  the  underflanding  before  it  gained  ilrength,  or 
-vanity  will  become  the  forerunner  of  vice :  for  every 
way  of  exhibiting  the  acquirements  cf  a  child  is  inju 
rious  to  its  moral  chara&er. 

How  much  time  is  loft  in  teaching  diem  to  recite  wh-.t 
they  do  not  undsriiand  !    whilu  icated  on  benches,  all 
in  their  belt  array,  the  mammas  liilen  with  a! 
to   the  parrot-like  prattle,  uttered  in  folemn  cac! 
with  all  the  pomp  of  ignorance  and  folly.     Such  exhi 
bitions  only  ferve  to  ftrike  the  fpreading  fibres  of  vanity 
through  the  whole  mind ;  for  they  neither  teach  chil 
dren  to  fpeak  fluently,  nor  behave  gracefully.     So  far 
from  it,  that  thefe  frivolous  parfaits  might  comprehen- 

*   I  noiv  particularly  a'l^i''  io  il^e  numerous  academies  in,   ai-.d  alout 
Lox.l'ju,   and  to  lie  behaviour  of  the  trading  fart  of  this  grtJl  <•'»*> 

Bb 


2,8o  VINDICATION    OF    THE. 

lively  be  termed  the  ftudy  of  affectation  ;  for  we  now 
rarely  fee  a  fimple,  bafhful  boy,  though  few  people  of 
tafte  were  ever  difgufted  by  that  awkward  fheepifhnefs 
fo  natural  to  the  age,  which  fchools  and  an  early  in 
troduction  into  fociety,  have  changed  into  impudence 
and  apilh  grimace. 

Yet,  huw  can  thefe  things  be  remedied  whilft  fchool- 
mafters  depend  entirely  on  parents  for  a  fubfiftence  ;  and 
when  fo  many  rival  fchools  hang  out  their  lures,  to 
catch  the  attention  of  vain  fathers  and  mothers,  whofe 
parental  affection  only  leads  them  to  wifh,  that  their 
children,  mould  outlhine  thofe  of  their  neighbours  ? 

Without  great  good  luck,  a  fenfible,  confcientious 
man,  would  ilarve  before  he  could  raife  a  fchool,  if  he 
diidained  to  bubble  weak  parents,  by  praclifing  the  fe- 
cret  tricks  of  the  craft. 

In  the  befl  regulated  fchools,  however,  where  fwarms 
are  not  crammed  together,  many  bad  habits  mull  be 
acquired;  but,  at  common  fchools,  the  body,  heart, 
and  underflanding,  are  equally  flunted,  for  parents  are 
often  only  in  queft  of  the  cheapefl  fchool,  and  the  maf- 
ter  could  not  live,  if  he  did  not  take  a  much  greater 
number  than  he  could  manage  himfelf ;  nor  will  the 
fcanty  pittance,  allowed  for  each  child,  permit  him  to 
Lire  ufhei  s  fu:"xient  to  aflifl  in  the  difckarge  of  the  me 
chanical  part  or  the  bufmefs.  Beildes,  whatever  ap 
pearance  the  houfe  and  garden  may  make,  the  children 
do  not  enjoy  the  comfort  of  either,  for  they  are  con 
tinually  reminded,  by  irkfome  reflriilions,  that  they  are 
not  at  home,  and  the  ilatc-rconis,  garden,  &c.  mail  be 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  2&I 

kept  in  order  for  the  recreation  of  the  parents ;  wlio, 
of  a  Sunday,  vifit  the  fchool,  and  are  imprefTcd  by  the 
very  parade  that  renders  the  iitiuiticn  of  their  children 
uncomfortable. 

With  what  difguil  have  I  heard  fenfible  women,  for 
girls  are  more  reilrained  and  cowed  than  boys,  fpcik 
of  the  wearifome  confinement,  which  they  endured  at 
fchool.  Not  allowed,  perhaps,  to  rtep  out  of  one  broad 
walk  in  a  fuperb  garden,  and  obliged  to  pace  with  fteady 
deportment  ftupidly  backwards  and  forwards,  holding 
up  their  heads,  and  turning  out  their  toes,  with  fhoul- 
ders  braced  back,  inflead  of  bounding,  as  nature  direcls 
to  complete  her  own  defign,  in  the  various  attitudes  To 
conducive  to  health.*  The  pure  animal  fpirits,  which 
make  both  mind  and  body  fhoot  out,  and  unfold  the 
tender  blofToms  of  hope,  are  turned  four,  and  vented  in 
vain  wifhes,  or  pert  repinings,  that  contract  the  facul 
ties  and  fpoil  the  temper  ;  elfe  they  mount  to- the  brain, 
and  fharpening  the  understanding  before  it  gains  pro- 

*  I  remember  a  circumjtance  that  once  cav:e  under  my  fiivii  obferwationt 
and  raifed  my  indignation.  I  went  to  vifit  a  little  liyy  at  afcbool  where 
young  children  "were  prepared  for  a  larger  one.  rfhe  ms.jltr  took  vie  into 
tbefchool-rcom,  &c.  but  ivhilft  I  walked  down  a  breed  gravel  ivalk^  I 
could  not  help  obferving  that  the  grafs  grerw  very  luxuriantly  en  eacbfde 
of  me.  I  immediately  rjkcd  lit  c'/.'d  f?n:c  nd found ^  that  ths 

povr  ioys  -were  not  a  Ho-:.     '  at  i!-£  majler  fviae- 

times  permitted  jlec <)  to  be  tun;:.l  in  to  crop  the  untrodden  graft,  clbe 
tyrant  of  ibis  domain  uj'cii  to  fit  by  a  window  that  overlooked  the  prifan 
yard)  and  one  nook  turninv  jrom  ity  inhere  ibe  unfortunate  l>u!>i'? 
/port  freely,  he  enclofed^  and  planted  it  ivith  potatoes.  The  v.'ije,  /.'/^T;  iff, 
iua.~  as  equally  anxious  to  ka'p  the  children  in  etder}  lead  they Juouid  dirty 
tr  tear  thtir  clothe:, 

Bb  2 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

portionable  ftrength,  produce  that  pitiful  cunning  which 
difgracefally  characterizes  the  female  mind — and  I  fear 
'will  ever  characterize  it  vvhilft  women  remain  the  ilaves 
of  power ! 

The  little  refpedl:  which  the  male  world  pay  to  chaftity 
is,  I  am  perfuaded,  the  grand  fource  of  many  of  thephy- 
fical  and  moral  evils  that  torment  mankind,  as  well  as 
of  the  vices  and  follies  that  degrade  and  deiboy  wo 
men  ;  yet  at  fchool,  boys  infallibly  lofe  that  decent  bafh- 
flilnefs,  which  might  have  ripened  intomodefty  at  home._ 
And  what  nafiy  indecent  tricks  do  they  alfo  learn 
from  each  other,  when  a  number  of  them  pig  together 
in  the  fame  bedchamber,  not  to  fpeak  of  their  vices, 
which  render  the  body  weak,  whilft  they  effectually 
prevent  the  acquifition  of  any  delicacy  of  mind.  The 
little  attention  paid  to  the  cultivation  of  modeity, 
amongit  men,  produces  great  depravity  in  all  the  rela- 
tionfliips  of  fociety  ;  for,  not  only  love — love  that  ought 
to  purify  the  heart,  and  firft  call  forth  all  the  youthful 
powers,  to  prepare  the  man  to  difcharge  the  benevolent 
duties  of  life,  is  facrificed  to  premature  luft ;  but  all  the 
focial  affections  are  deadened  by  the  felfim  gratifica 
tions,  which  very  early  pollute  the  mind,  and  dry  up 
the  generous  juices  of  the  h^art.  In  what  an  unnatural 
manner  is  innocence  often  violated  ;  and  what  ferious 
confequences  enfue  to  render  private  vices  a  public  pelt. 
Belides,  an  habit  ofperfonal  order,  which  has  more  effect 
on  the  moral  character,  than  is,  in  general  fuppofed, 
can  only  be  acquired  at  home,  where  that  refpeclable 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  283 

referve  is  kept  up,  which  checks  the  familiarity,  that 
finking  into  beaftlinefs,  undermines  the  affection  it  infuits. 

I  have  already  animadverted  on  the  bad  habits  which 
females  acquire  when  they  are  {hut  up  together;  and  I 
think  that  the  obfervation  may  fairly  be  extended  to  the 
other  fex,  till  the  natural  inference  is  drawn,  which  I 
have  had  in  view  throughout — that  to  improve  both 
fexes  they  ought,  not  only  in  private  families,  but  in 
public  fchools,  to  be  educated  together,  if  marriage  be 
the  cement  of  fociety,  mankind  fhould  all  be  educated 
sifter  the  fame  mode!,  or  the  intercourfe  of  the  (exes 
will  never  defer  ve  the  name  of  feilowilup,  nor  v,  ill  wo 
men  ever  fulfil  the  peculiar  duties  of  their  lex,  till  they 
become  enlightened  citizens,  till  they  become  free,  by 
being  enabled  to  earn  their  own  fubfiftence,  independent 
of  men  ;  in  the  fame  manner,  I  mean,  to  prevent  mif- 
conilruclion,  as  one  man  is  independent  of  another. 
Nay,  marriage  will  never  be  ^held  fatred  till  women, 
by  being  brought  up  with  men,  are  prepared  to  be  their 
companions,  rather  than  their  niilircfies;  for  the  mean 
doublings  of  cunning  will  ever  render  them  con 
temptible,  whilfc  oppreiuon  renders  them  timid.  So 
convinced  am  I  of  this  truth,  that  I  will  venture  to 
predict,  that  virtue  will  never  prevail  in  fociety  till  the 
virtues  of  both  fexes  are  founded  on  reafon  ;  and,  till 
the  affections  common  to  both  are  aiiowcd  to  gain  their 
due  ftrength  by  the  difcharge  of  mutual  duties. 

Were    boys  and  girls  permitted  to  purfue  the  fame 
fludies  together,  thofe  graceful  decencies  might  early 
be   inculcated  which   produce  modefty,  without   thofe 
Bb  3 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

fexual  diftinclions  that  taint  the  mind.  LdTons  of  po- 
litenefsj  and  that  formulary  of  decorum,  which  treads 
on  the  heels  of  falfehood,  would  be  rendered  ufelefs  by 
habitual  propriety  of  behaviour.  Not,  indeed,  put  on 
for  viiitors  like  the  courtly  robe  of  politenefs,  but  the 
fober  effccl  of  cleanlinefs  of  mind.  Would  not  this 
firnple  elegance  of  fmcerity  be  a  chafte  homage  paid  to 
domeiiic  affections,  far  furpaliing  the  meretricious  com 
pliments  that  mine  with  falfe  luilre  in  the  heartlefs  in- 
tercourfe  of  fifliionable  life  ?  But,  till  more  underftand- 
ing  preponderate  in  fociety,  there  will  ever  be  a  want 
of  heart  and  talte,  and  the  harlot's  rouge  will  fupply  the 
place  of  that  celeftial  fuffufion  which  only  virtuous  af 
fections  can  give  to  the  face.  Gallantry,  and  what  is 
called  love,  may  fubfill  without  fimplicity  of  character  ; 
but  the  main  pillars  of  friendfhip,  are  refpecl:  and  con 
fidence — eileem  is  never  founded  on  it  cannot  tell  what. 

A  tafte  for  the  fine  arts  requires  great  cultivation  ; 
but  not  more  than  a  tafte  for  the  virtuous  affections  ; 
and  both  fuppofe  that  enlargement  of  mind  which 
opens  fo  many  fources  of  mental  pleafure.  Why  do 
people  hurry  to  noify  fcenes  and  crowded  circles  ?  I 
mould  anfwer,  becaufe  they  want  adlivity  of  mind,  be- 
caufe  they  have  not  cherifhed  the  virtues  of  the  heart . 
They  only,  therefore,  fee  and  feel  in  the  grofs,  and 
continually  pine  after  variety,  finding  every  thing  that 
is  nrnple,  infipid. 

This  argument  may  be  carried  further  than  philofo- 
phers  are  aware  of,  for  if  nature  deftined  woman,  in  par 
ticular,  for  the  difcharge  of  domeilic  duties,  me  made 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  25 

her  fufceptible  of  the  attached  affeftions  in  a  great  de 
gree.  Now  women  are  notorioufly  fond  of  pleafure  ; 
and  naturally  mull  be  fo,  according  to  my  definition,  be- 
caufe  they  cannot  enter  into  the  minutiae  of  domeftic 
tafte ;  lacking  judgment,  the  foundation  of  all  tafte. 
For  the  underftanding,  in  fpite  of  fenfual  cavillers,  re- 
ferves  to  itfelf  the  privilege  of  conveying  pure  joy  to  the 
heart. 

With  what  a  languid  yawn  have  I  feen  an  admirable 
jpoem  thrown  down,  that  a  man  of  true  tafte  returns  to, 
again  and  again,  with  rapture  ;  and,  whilft  melody  has 
almoft  fufpended  refpiration,  a  lady  has  aflced  me,  where 
I  bought  my  gown.  I  have  feen  alfo  an  eye  glanced 
coldly  over  a  moft  exquifite  picture,  reft,  fparkling  with 
pleafure,  on  a  caricature  rudely  fketched;  and  whilft 
fome  terrific  feature  in  nature  has  fpread  a  fublime  ftill- 
nefs  through  my  foul,  I  have  been  defired  to  obferve  the 
pretty  tricks  of  a  lap-dog,  that  my  perverfe  fate  forced 
me  to  travel  with.  Is  it  furprifmg,  that  fuch  a  taftelefs 
being  mould  rather  carefs  this  dog  than  her  children  ? 
Or,  that  fhe  fhould  prefer  the  rant  of  flattery  to  the  nm- 
ple  accents  of  fmcerity  ? 

To  illuftrate  this  remark  I  muft  be  allowed  to  obferve, 
that  men  of  the  firft  genius,  and  moft  cultivated  minds, 
have  appeared  to  have  the  higheft  relifh  for  the  fimple 
beauties  of  nature  ;  and  they  muft  have  forcibly  felt, 
what  they  have  fo  well  defcribed,  the  charm,  which  na 
tural  affections,  and  unfophifticated  feelings  fpread  round 
the  human  character.  It  is  this  power  of  looking  into 
the  heart,  and  refponfively  vibrating  with  each  emotion, 


286  VINDICATION    OF    THS 

that  enables  the  poet  to  perfonify  each  paffion,  and  the 
painter  to  {ketch  with  a  pencil  of  fire. 

True  tails  is  ever  the  work  of  the  underflanding  em 
ployed  in  objferving  natural  effects ;  and  till  women  have 
more  undemanding,  IL  is  vain  to  exped  them  to  poiTefs 
domeftic  taile.  Their  lively  fenfes  will  ever  be  at  work 
to  harden  tiieir  hearts,  and  the  emotions  ftruck  out  of 
them  will  continue  to  be  vivid  and  tranfitory,  unlefs  a 
proper  education  ftores  their  minds  with  knowledge. 

It  is  the  want  of  domeftic  lai-.e,  and  net  the  acquire 
ment  of  knowledge,  that  takes  worsen  out  cf  their  fami 
lies,  and  tears  the  fmiiing  b:ibc  fvcm  the  breaft  that 
ought  to  afford  it  nouriihment.  Women  have  been  al 
lowed  to  remain  in  ignorance.,  and  flaviih  dependence, 
many,  very  many  years,  and  ftill  we  hear  of  nothing  but 
their  fondnefs  of  pleafure  and  fway,  their  preference  of 
rakes  and  foldiers,  their  childifh  attachment  to  toys,  and 
tiic  vanity  that  makes  them  value  accornplilhnients  more 
than  virtues. 

Hiitory  brings  forward  a  fcarfai  catalogue  of  the 
crimes  which  their  cunning  has  produced,  when  the 
weak  {laves  have  had  fuflicient  addrefs  to  over-reach  their 
maflers.  In  France,  and  in  how  many  other  countries 
have  men  been  the  luxurious  clefpots,  and  women  the 
crafty  miniiters  ? — Does  this  prove  that  ignorance  and 
dependence  domeilicate  them  ?  Is  not  their  folly  the  by 
word  cf  the  libertines,  who  relax  in  their  fociety  ;  and 
do  not  men  of  fenfe  continually  lament,  that  an  immode 
rate  fondnefs  for  drefs  and  diillpation  carries  the  mother 
of  a  family  for  ever  from  home.  Their  hearts  have  not 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  287 

been  debauched  by  knowledge,  nor  their  minds  led  aftray 
by  fcientific  purfuits ;  yet,  they  do  not  fulfil  the  peculiar 
duties,  which  as  women  they  are  called  upon  by  nature 
to  fulfil.  On  the  contrary,  the  ftate  of  warfare  which 
fubfiils  between  the  fexes,  makes  them  employ  thofe 
wiles,  that  fruilrate  the  more  open  defigns  offeree. 

When,  therefore,  I  call  women  flaves,  I  mean  in  a 
political  and  civil  fenfe ;  for,  indireclly  they  obtain  too 
much  power,  and  are  debafed  by  their  exertions  to  ob 
tain  illicit  fway. 

Let  an  enlightened  nation  *  then  try  what  effect  rea- 
fon  would  have  to  bring  them  back  to  nature,  and  their 
duty  ;  and  allowing  them  to  mare  the  advantages  of  edu 
cation  and  government  with  man,  fee  whether  they  will 
become  better,  as  they  grow  wifer  and  become  free. 
They  cannot  be  injured  by  the  experiment;  for  it  is 
not  in  the  power  of  man  to  render  them  more  infignifi- 
cant  than  they  are  at  prefent. 

To  render  this  practicable,  day  fchools  for  particular 
ages  mould  be  eftablimed  by  government,  in  which  boys 
and  girls  might  be  educated  together.  The  fchool  for 
the  younger  children,  from  five  to  nine  years  of  age* 
ought  to  be  abfolutely  free  and  open  to  all  claflesf.  A 
fufHcient  number  of  mafters  mould  alfo  be  chofen  by  a 
feleft  committee,  in  each  parifh,  to  whom  any  complaint 

*  France. 

•f-  Treating  this  part  of  the  fitljiSl,  I  have  borrowed  fome  hints  from 
H  very  fenfible  pamphlet)  iv  tit  ten  by  the  late  bijbop  of  Autun  on  Publi* 
Education, 


288 


VINDICATION    OF    THJE 


of  negligence,  &c.  might  be  made,  if  %ned  by  fix  of 
the  children's  parents. 

Umers  would  then  be  unneceffary  :  for,  I  believe, 
experience  will  ever  prove,  that  this  kind  of  fubordinate 
authority  is  particularly  injurious  to  the  morals  of  youth. 
What,  indeed,  can  tend  to  deprave  the  character  more 
than  outward  fubmiffion  and  inward  contempt?  Yet,  how 
can  boys  be  expected  to  treat  an  ufher  with  refpeov 
when  the  mailer  feems  to  confider  him  in  the  light  of  a 
fervant,  and  almofl  to  countenance  the  ridicule  which  be 
comes  the  chief  amufement  of  the  boys  during  the  play 
hours. 

But  nothing  of  this  kind  could  occur  in  an  elementary 
day-fchool,  where  boys  and  girls,  the  rich  and  poor, 
mould  meet  together.  And  to  prevent  any  of  the  difl 
tinclions  of  vanity,  they  fliould  be  drefled  alike,  and  all 
obliged  to  fubmit  to  the  fame  difcipline,  or  leave  the 
fchool.  The  fchool-room  ought  to  be  fur  rounded  by  a 
large  piece  of  ground,  in  which  the  children  might  be 
ufe fully  exerciied,  for  at  this  age  they  mould  not  be  con 
fined  to  any  fedentary  employment  for  more  than  an  honr 
at  a  time.  But  thefe  relaxations  might  all  be  rendered 
a  part  of  elementary  education,  for  many  things  improve 
and  amufe  the  fenfes,  when  introduced  as  a  kind  of  mow* 
to  the  principles  of  which,  dryly  laid  down,  children 
would  turn  a  deaf  ear.  For  inftance,  botany,  mecha 
nics,  and  aftronomy.  Reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  na 
tural  hiftory,  and  fome  fimple  experiments  in  natural  phi- 
lofophy,  might  fill  up  the  day ;  but  thefe  purfuits  mould 
never  encroacJi  on  gymnaftic  plays  in  the  open  air.  The 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  280 

7 

elements  of  religion,   hiftory,  the  hiflory  of  man,  and 
politics  might  alib  be  taught,  by  conversions  in   the 
!  focratic  form. 

After  the  age  of  nine,  girls  and  boys,  intended  for  do- 
meftic  employments,  or  mechanical  trades,  ought  to  be 
removed  to  other  fchools,  and  receive  inftruclion,  in 
feme  meafure  appropriated  to  the  destination  of  each  in 
dividual,  the  two  fexes,  being  ftiil  together  in  the  mor 
ning  ;  but  in  the  afternoon,  the  girls  mould  attend  a 
fchool,  where  plain-work,  mantua-making,  millinery, 
&c.  would  be  their  employment. 

The  young   people  of  fuperior  abilities,  or  fortune, 

i  might  now  be  taught,  in  another  fchool,   the  dead  and 

I  living  languages,  the  elements  of  fcience,  and  continue 

( the  ftudy  of  hiflory  and  politics,  on  a  more   extenfive 

|  fcale,  which  would  not  exclude  polite  literature.  Girls 

i  and  boys  Hill  together  ?  I  hear  fome  readeis  afk :   yes. 

i  And  I  mould  not  fear  any  other  confequence,  than  that 

|  fome  early  attachment  might  take  place ;  which,  whilft 

I  it  had  the  bed  effect  on  the  moral  chandler  of  the  young 

people,  might  not  perfedly  agree  with  the  views  of  the 

parents,  for  it  will  be  a   long  time  I  fear,  before  the 

world  is  fo  enlightened,  that  parents,  only  anxious  to 

j  rentier  their  children  virtuous,   will   let   them  choofe 

companions  for  life  themfeives. 

Befides,  this  would  be  a  fure  way  to  promote  early 
toiarmges,  and  from  early  marriages  the  mofl  falutary 
phyilcal  and  moral  effecls  naturally  flow.  What  a  dif 
ferent  character  does  a  married  citizen  aflume  from  the 
felfifli  coxcomb,  who  lives  but  for  hknfelf,  and  who  is 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

often  afraid  to  marry  left  he  mould  not  be  able  to  livt 
in  a  certain  ftyle.  Great  emergencies  excepted,  which 
would  rarely  occur  in  a  fociety  of  which  equality  was 
the  bafis,  a  man  could  only  be  prepared  to  difcharge  the 
duties  of  public  life,  by  the  habkual  practice  of  thofe 
inferior  ones  which  form  the  man. 

In  this  plan  of  education,  the  confcitution  of  bcy$ 
would  not  be  ruined  by  the  early  debaucheries, 
which  now  make  men  fo  felfifti,  nor  girls  rendered 
weak  and  vain,  by  indolence  and  frivolous  purfuits. 
But,  I  prefuppofe,  that  fuch  a  degree  of  equality  ihould 
be  eftablifhed  between  the  fexes  as  would  fhut  out  gal 
lantry  and  coquetry,  yet  allow  frienddiip  and  love  to 
temper  the  heart  for  the  difcharge  of  higher  duties. 

Thefe  would  be  fchools  of  morality— and  the  happi- 
nefs  of  man,  allowed  to  flow  from  the  pure  fprings.  of 
duty  and  affection,  what  advances  might  not  the  human 
mind  make  ?  Society  can  only  be  happy  and  free  in 
proportion  as  it  is  virtuous  ;  but  the  prefent  diftinc- 
tions  eftablimed  in  fociety,  corrode  all  private,  and  blaft 
all  public  virtue. 

I  have  already  inveighed  againft  the  cullom  of  con 
fining  girls  to  their  needle,  and  (hutting  them  out  from 
all  political  and  civil   employments ;  for  by  thus  nar 
rowing  their  minds  they  are  rendered  unfit  to  fulfil  the  i 
peculiar  duties  which  nature  has  aillgned  them. 

Only  employed  about  the  little  incidents  of  the  clay, 
they  neceflarily  grow  up  cunning.  My  very  foul  has 
often  fickened  at  obferving  the  fly  tricks  pradUfed  by 
women  to  gain  fome  fcoliin  thing  on  which  their  filly 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  2$I 

hearts  were  fet.     Not  allowed  to  difpofe  of  money,  or 
call  any  thing  their  own,  they  iearri  to  turn  the  market 
penny  ;  or,  ihould   a  huiband    offend,   by  fhying  from 
home,  or  give  rile  to  forne  emotions  of  jeuioui) — a  new 
gown,  or  any  pretty  bauble,  imooths  Juno's  angry  brow. 
But    thefe   littUneffes  would  not  degrade   their  cha- 
rader,  if  women  were  led  to  refped  themfelves,  if  po 
litical  and  moral  fubjeda    wex'e  opened  to  them  ;  aad  I 
will  venture  to  affirm,  that  this  is  the  only  way  to  make 
them  properly  attentive  to  tiieir  domekic  autie.,  — An 
active  mind   embraces  the   waoie   circle  of  us  duties, 
and  finds  time  enougii  for  ail.     It  is  not,  i  aflert,  a  bold 
atte  npt  to  emulate  mafcuune  virtues ;  k  L  not  the  en 
chantment  of  literary  puri'uits,   or  tiie  Heady  inveiriga- 
tioa  of  fcicntific  fubjeds,  that  lead  women  aitray  from 
duty.  No,  it  is  indolence  and  vanity — the  love  of  plea- 
fure  and  the  love  of  fway,  that  will  reign  paramount  in 
an  empty  mind.    1  fay  empty,  emphatically,  becaufcthe 
education  which  women  now  receive  icarcely  Jc-ierv  e;  the 
name.    For  the  little  knowledge  they  areieJ  to  acquire 
during  the  important  years  of  youtii,  is  mereiy  relative 
to  accompliirmients  ;    and  accompiiiliments    without  a 
bottom,  for  unlefs  the  underilanding  be  cultivated,  fu- 
perficial   and  monotonous  is    every    grace.     Like   the 
charms  of  a  mad.'-up  face,  they  only  itrike   the  fenfes 
in  a  crowd  ;  but  at  home,  wanting  mind,  they  want  va 
riety.     The  confequence  is  obvious ;  in  gay  fcenes  of 
diifipcttion   we  meet   the  artificial    mind  and  face,  for 
thofe  who  fly  from  folitude  dread  next  to  folitude,  the 
domeilic  circle ;  not  having  it  in  their  power  to  amufe 
Cc 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

or  mtereft,  they  feel  their  own  infignincance,  or  find 
nothing  to  aniufe  or  mtereft  themfelves. 

Beiides,  what  can  be  more  indelicate  than  a  girl's 
coming  out  in  the  faihionable  world  ?  Which,  in  other 
words,  is  to  bring  to  market  a  marriageable  mifs,  whofc 
perfon  is  taken  from  one  public  place  to  another,  richly 
caparifoned.  Yet,  mixing  in  the  giddy  circle  under 
reftraint,  thefe  butterflies  long  to  flutter  at  large,  for 
the  firil  affection  of  their  fouls  is  their  own  peribns,  to 
which  their  attention  has  been  called  with  the  moft  fe- 
dulous  care,  whilft  they  were  preparing  for  the  period 
that  decides  their  fate  for  life.  Indead  of  purfuing  this 
idle  routine,  fighing  for  taiteleis  mow,  and  heartlefs 
flatc,  with  what  dignity  would  the  youths  of  both  fexes 
form  attachments  in  the  fchools  that  I  have  curforily 
}'0  nted  out ;  in  which,  as  life  advanced,  dancing,  mufic, 
.and  drawing,  might  be  admitted  as  relaxations,  for  at 
thefe  fchools  young  people  of  fortune  ought  to  remain, 
more  or  lefs,  till  they  were  of  age.  Thoie,  who  were 
defined  for  particular  profeffions,  might  attend,  three 
or  four  mornings  in  the  week,  the  fchools  appropriated 
for  their  immediate  inttruclion. 

I  only  drop  thefe  cbfervations  at  prefent,  as  hints,  ra 
ther  indeed  as  an  outline  of  the  plan  I  mean,  than  a 
duelled  one  ;  but  I  mufladd,  that  I  highly  approve  of 
one  regulation  mentioned  in  the  pamphlet  *  already  al 
luded  to,  that  of  making  the  children  and  youths  in 
dependent  of  the  matters  refpe&ing  punifhments.  Tl« 

*    The  Bijbof  of  Autuns. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN. 

fhould  be  tried  by  their  peers,  which  would  be  an  ad 
mirable  method  of  fixing  found  principles  of  juilice  in 
the  mind,  and  might  have  the  happieft  effect  on  the  tem 
per,  which  is  very  early  loured  or  irritated  by  tyranny, 
till  it  becomes  peeviihly  cunning,  or  ferocioufly  over 
bearing. 

My  imagination  darts  forward  with  benevolent  fer 
vour  to  greet  thefe  amiable  and  refpeclable  groups,  in 
fpite  of  the  fneering  of  cold  hearts,  who  are  at  liberty 
to  utter,  with  frigid  felf-importance,  the  damning  epi 
thet. — romantic  j  the  force  of  which  I  {hall  endeavour 
to  blunt  by  repeating  the  words  of  an  eloquent  moraiill. 

*  1  know  not  whether  the  alluiions  of  a  truly  humane 
'  heart,   whoie  zeal   renders   every  thing   eaiy,  is  not 

*  preferable  to  that  rough  and  repulfmg  reafon,  which 

*  always  finds  in  indifference   for  the  public  good,  the 
'  firft  obflacle  to  whatever  would  promote  it.' 

I  know  that  libertines  will  allb  exclaim,  that  woman 
would  be  unfexed  by  acquiring  ilrength  of  body  and 
mind,  and  that  beauty,  foft  bewitching  beauty  !  would 
no  longer  adorn  the  daughters  of  men  !  I  am  of  a  very 
different  opinion,  for  I  think,  that,  on  the  contrary,  we 
mould  then  fee  dignified  beauty,  and  true  grace  ;  to  pro 
duce  which,  many  powerful  phyfical  and  moral  caufes 
would  concur. — Not  relaxed  beauty,  it  is  true,  nor  the 
graces  of  helplelTnefs ;  but  fuch  as  appears  to  make  us 
refpeft  the  human  body  as  a  majeftic  pile  fit  to  receive 
a  noble  inhabitant,  in  the  relics  of  antiquity. 

I  do  not  forget  the  popular  opinion,  that  the  Grecian 
iUtues  were  not  modelled  after  nature.  I  mean,  not 

CC2 


294  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

according  to  the  proportions  of  a  particular  man;  but 
th  it  beautiful  limbs  and  features  were  {elected  from  va 
rious  bodies  to  form  a  harmonious  whole.  This  might, 
in  fome  degree,  be  true.  The  fine  ideal  picture  of  an 
exalted  imagination  might  be  fuperior  to  the  materials 
which  the  painter  found  in  nature,  and  thus  it  might 
with  propriety  be  termed  rather  the  model  of  mankind 
than  of  a  man.  It  was  not,  however  the  mechanical 
felectioR  of  limbs  and  features ;  but  the  ebullition  of  an 
heated  funcy  that  burft  forth,  and  the  fine  fenfes  and 
enlarged  understanding  of  the  artift  feleded  the  folid 
matter,  which  he  drew  into  this  glowing  focus. 

I  obferved  that  it  was  not  mechanical,  becaufe  a  whole 
was  produced — a  model  of  that  grand  fimplicky,  of 
thofe  concurring  energies,  which  arreftour  attention  and 
command  our  reverence.  For  only  infipid lifelefs  beauty 
is  produced  by  a  fervile  copy  of  even  beautiful  nature. 
Yet,  independent  of  thefe  obfervations,  I  believe,  that 
the  human  form  muft  have  been  far  more  beautiful  than 
it  is  at  prefent,  becauie  extreme  indolence,  barbarous 
ligatures,  and  many  caufes,  which  forcibly  ad  on  it,  in 
our  .uxuiious  ftate  of  lociety,  did  not  retard  its  expan- 
fion,  or  render  it  deformed.  Exercife  and  cleanlinefs 
appear  to  be  not  only  the  furelt  means  of  preferving 
health,  but  of  promoting  beauty,  the  phyiical  caufes 
only  confidered;  yet,  this  is  not  fufncient,  moral  ones 
mult  occur,  or  beauty  will  be  merely  of  that  ruftic  kind 
which  blooms  on  the  innocent,  wholefome  countenances 
of  ionic  country  people,  whole  minds  have  not  been 
cxerciied.  To  render  the  perfon  perfect,  phyncal  and 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  2Q5 

moral  beauty  ought  to  be  attained  at  the  fame  time  ; 
each  lending  and  receiving  force  by  the  combination. 
Judgment  muft  refide  on  the  brow,  affection  and  fancy 
beam  in  the  eye,  and  humanity  curve  the  cheek,  or 
vain  is  the  fparkling  of  the  fineft  eye,  or  the  elegantly 
turned  finim  of  the  faireft  features  ;  whilfl  in  every  mo 
tion  that  diiplays  the  active  limbs  and  well-knit  joints, 
grace  and  modefty  mould  appear.  But  this  fair  afTem- 
biage  is  not  to  be  brought  together  by  chance  ;  it  is 
the  reward  of  exertions  met  to  fupport  each  other  ; 
for  judgment  can  only  be  acquired  by  reflection,  affec 
tion  by  the  difcharge  of  duties,  and  humanity  by  the 
exercife  of  companion  to  every  living  creature. 

Humanity  to  animals  mould  be  particularly  incul 
cated  as  a  part  of  national  education,  for  it  is  not  at 
prefe.it  one  of  our  national  virtues.  TcnJernefs  for 
their  humble  dumb  dcmeftics,  amongft  the  lower  clafs, 
is  oftcner  to  be  found  in  a  favage  than  a  civilized  fcate. 
For  civilization  prevents  that  intercourfe  which  creates 
in  the  rude  hut,  or  mud  cabin,  and  leads  un 


cultivated  minds  who  are  only  depraved  by  the  refine 
ments  which  prevail  in  the  fccie'cy,  where  they  are 
trouden  under  foot  by  the  rich,  to  domineer  over 
theji  to  revenge  the  infults  that  they  are  obliged  to  bear 
from  their  fuperiors. 

This  habitual  cruelty  is  firftcuight  at  fchool,  where  it 
is  one  of  the  rare  fports  of  the  boys  to  torment  the  mi- 
ferable  brutes  that  fall  in  their  way.  The  tranfition,  as 
they  grow  up,  from  barbarity  to  brutes  to  domeftic  ty 
ranny  over  wives,  children,  and  fervants,  is  very  eafy, 
Cc3 


296  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

Juftice,  or  even  benevolence,  will  not  be  a  powerful 
*pring  of  aclion,  unlefs  it  be  extended  to  the  whole  crea 
tion  j  nay,  I  believe,  that  it  may  be  delivered  as  an 
axiom,  that  thole  who  can  fee  pain,  unmoved,  will  foon 
learn  to  inflict  it. 

The  vulgar  are  fwayed  by  prefent  feelings,  and  the 
h-ibits  which  they  have  accidentally  acquired  ;  but  on 
partial  feelings  much  dependence  cannot  be  placed, 
though  they  be  juft  ;  for,  when  they  are  not  invigorated 
by  reflection,  cuftom  weakens  them,  till  they  arefcarcely 
felt.  The  fympathies  of  our  nature  are  flrengthened 
by  pondering  cogitations,  and  deadened  by  thought- 
lefs  uie.  Macbeth's  heart  fmote  him  more  for  one  mur 
der,  the  firft,  than  for  a  hundred  fubfequent  ones,  which 
were  neceiTary  to  back  it.  But,  when  I  ufed  the  epithet 
vulgar,  I  did  not  mean  to  confine  my  remark  to  the 
poor,  for  partial  h/jmanity,  founded  on  prefent  fenfa- 
tions  or  whim,  is  quite  as  conipicuoas,  if  not  more  fo, 
amongft  the  rich. 

The  lady  who  meds  tears  for  the  bird  ftarved  in  a 
fn:ire,  and  execrates  the  devils  in  the  (liape  of  men, 
who  goad  to  madnefs  the  poor  ox,  or  whip  the  patient 
afs,  tottering  under  a  burden  above  its  ftrength,  will, 
neverthelefs,  keep  her  coachman  an^  horfes  whole  hours 
waiting  for  her,  when  the  Iharp  froft  bites,  or  the  rain 
beits  again  ft  the  well-clofei  windows  which  do  not  ad 
mit  a  breath  of  air  to  tell  her  how  roughly  the  wind 
bio  vvs  without.  And  fhe  who  takes  her  dogs  to  bed, 
and  nurfes  them  with  a  parade  of  fenfibility,  when  lick, 
fuifer  her  babes  to  grow  up  crooked  in  a  nurfery. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN. 

This  illuftration  of  my  argument  is  drawn  from  a  matter 
of  fad.  The  woman  whom  I  allude  to  was  handfome, 
reckoned  very  handfome,  by  thofe  who  do  not  mifs  the 
mind  when  the  face  is  plump  and  fair  ;  but  her  under* 
(landing  had  not  been  led  from  ft  m  Je  duties  by  litera 
ture,  nor  her  innocence  debauched  by  knowledge.  No, 
me  was  quite  feminine,  according  to  the  niafculine  ac 
ceptation  of  the  word ;  and,  ib  far  from  loving  thefe 
fpoiled  brutes  that  filled  the  place  which  her  children 
ought  to  have  occupied,  me  only  lifped  out  a  pretty 
mixture  of  French  and  Englilh  nonfenfe,  to  pleafe  the 
men  who  flocked  round  her.  The  wife,  mother,  and 
human  creature,  were  all  fwallowed  up  by  the  factitious 
character,  which  an  improper  education,  and  the  ielfiih 
vanity  of  beauty,  had  produced. 

I  do  not  like  to  make  a  uiftincrion  without  a  differ 
ence,  and  I  own  that  I  have  been  as  much  difgufted  by 
the  fine  lady  who  took  her  lap-dog  to  her  bofbm,  in- 
ilead  of  her  child,  as  by  the  ferocity  of  a  man,  who 
beating  his  horfe,  declared,  that  he  knew  as  well  when 
he  did  wrong  as  a  Chriftian. 

This  brood  of  folly  mows  how  miflaken  they  are  who, 
if  they  allow  women  to  leave  their  harams,  do  not  cul 
tivate  their  underilandings,  in  order  to  plant  virtues 
in  their  hearts.  For  hid  they  fenfe,  they  might  ac 
quire  that  domeflic  tafle  which  would  lead  them  to  love 
with  reafonable  fubordination  their  whole  fimiiy,  from 
the  hufband  to  the  houfe-dog  ;  nor  would  they  ever  in- 
fult  humanity  in  the  p^rfon  of  th?  moft  menial  fervant, 
by  paying  more  attention  to  the  comfort  of  a  bruic  than 
to  that  of  a  fellow-creature. 


2g  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

My  obfrrvations  on  national  education  are  obvioufly 
hinis  ;  but  I  principally  wiih  to  enforce  the  neceffity  of 
educ-iting  the  fenies  together  to  perfect  both,  and  of ; 
making  chiicL-en  ileep  at  home,  that  they  may  learn 
to  love  home  ;  yet  to  make  private  iupport,  inftead  of 
fmothering  public  affections,  they  mould  be  fent  to 
fcnool  to  mix  wicri  a  number  of  equals,  for  only  by  the 
jo!Hings  of  equality  can  we  form  a  juft  opinion  of 
ouifelves. 

To  render  mankind  more  virtuous,  and  happier  of 
courfe,  both  fexes  muft  aft  from  the  fame  principle  ;  but 
how  can  that  be  expected  when  only  one  is  allowed  to 
fee  the  reafonablenefs  of  it  ?  To  render  alfo  the  ibcial 
compact  truly  equitable,  and  in  order  to  fpread  thofe 
enlightening  principles,  which  alone  can  meliorate  the 
fate  of  man,  women  muft  be  allowed  to  found  their  vir 
tue  on  knowledge,  which  is  fcarcely  poffible  unlefs  they 
are  educated  by  the  fame  purfuits  as  men.  For  they 
are  now  made  fo  inferior  by  ignorance  and  low  defires, 
as  not  to  defer ve  to  be  ranked  with  them ;  or,  by  the 
ferpentine  wrigglings  of  cunning  they  mount  the  tree  of 
knowledge,  and  only  acquire  fufHcientto  lead  men  aftray. 

It  is  plain  from  the  hiilory  of  all  nations,  that  women 
cannot  be  confined  to  merely  domeflic  purfuits,  for  they 
will  not  fulfil  family  duties,  unlefs  their  minds  take  a 
\vi  ler  range,  and  whilft  they  are  kept  in  ignorance,  they 
become,  in  the  lame  proportion,  the  ilaves  of  pleafure, 
as  they  are  the  flaves  of  man.  Nor  can  they  be  ihut 
out  of  great  enterprifes,  though  the  narrownefs  of  their 
minds  often  make  them  mar,  what  they  are  unable  to 
comprehend. 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN.  29$ 

The  libertinifm,  and  even  the  virtues  of  fuperior 
men,  will  always  give  women  of  fome  defcription, 
it  power  over  them  ;  and  theie  weak  women,  under 
the  influence  of  childiih  pafiions  and  felhm  vanity,  will 
throw  a  falfe  light  over  the  objects  which  the  very  men 
view  with  their  eyes,  who  ought  to  enlighten  their 
judgment.  Men  of  fancy,  and  thofe  fanguine  cha- 
rafters  who  moilly  hold  the  helm  of  human  affairs,  in 
general,  relax  in  the  fociety  of  women ;  and  furely  I 
need  not  cite  to  the  moft  fuperficial  reader  of  hiitory, 
the  numerous  examples  of  vice  and  oppreflion  which  the 
private  intrigues  of  female  favourites  have  produced  ; 
not  to  dwell  on  the  miichief  t-iat  naturally  arifes  from 
the  blundering  interpofition  of  well-meaning  foily. 
For  in  the  transactions  of  bufmefs  it  is  much  better  to 
have  to  deal  with  a  knave  than  a  fool,  becauie  a  kn.ive 
adheres  to  fome  plan;  and  any  plan  of  reafon  may  be 
feen  through  much  fooner  than  a  fudden  flight  of  folly. 
The  power  which  vile  and  fooliih  women  iiave  had  over 
wife  men,  who  poiTeiTed  leniibiiuy,  is  notorious;  I  lhall 
only  mention  one  inibtnce. 

Whoever  drew  a  more  exalted  female  character  than 
Roufleau  ?  though  in  the  lump  he  conftantly  enaeavoarcd 
to  degrade  the  iex.  And  why  was  he  thus  anxious  ? 
Truly  to  juflify  to  himfelf  the  affection  winch  we  .kn^fs 
and  virtue  had  made  him  cnerim  for  th.it  fool  Taerefa. 
He  could  not  raife  her  to  the  common  level  of  her  fex  ; 
and  therefore  he  laboured  to  bang  woman  down  to 
her's.  He  found  her  a  convenient  humble  couipanion, 
and  pride  made  him  determine  to  tind  lome  iuperior 


300  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

virtues  in  the  being  whom  he  chofe  to  live  with ;  but 
did  not  her  conduct  during  his  life,  and  after  his  death, 
clearly  {how  how  groisly  lie  was  miftaken  who  called  <,er 
a  ceieftial  innocent.  Nay,  in  the  bitternefs  of  his  heart, 
he  himfelf  laments,  that  when  his  bod-.iy  infirmities  made 
him  no  longer  treat  her  like  a  woman,  me  ceaied  to  have 
an  affeclion  for  him.  And  it  was  very  natural  that  me 
fhouid,  for  having  fo  few  ienviments  in  common,  when 
the  iexual  tie  was  broken  what  was  to  hold  her  ?  To 
hold  her  affection  whole  ieniibility  was  confined  to  one 
fex,  nay,  to  one  man,  it  requires  fenfe  to  turn  fenubi- 
lity  into  the  broad  channel  of  humanity  ;  many  women 
have  not  mind  enough  to  have  an  affection  for  a  woman 
or  a  friendfhip  for  a  man.  But  the  fexual  weakneis  that 
makes  woman  depend  on  man  for  a  fubtiilence,  produces 
a  kind  of  cattifn  affection  wnicn  leads  a  wife  to  purr 
about  her  hufband,  as  ihe  would  about  any  man  who  fed 
and  carefied  her. 

Men  are,  however,  often  gratified  by  this  kind  of  fond- 
nefs,  which  is  confined  in  a  beaftly  manner  to  themfelves, 
but  ihould  they  ever  become  more  virtuous,  they  will 
wifh  to  converfe  at  their  fire-fide  with  a  friend,  after 
they  ceafe  to  play  with  a  miflrefs. 

Beiides,  understanding  is  necefT.ry  to  give  variety  and 
interefl  to  ienlual  enjoyments,  for  low,  indeed,  in  the 
intellectual  fcale,  is  the  mind  that  can  continue  to  love 
when  neither  virtue  nor  fenfe  give  a  human  appearance 
to  an  animal  appetite.  But  fenfe  will  always  prepon 
derate;  and  if  women  are  not,  in  general,  brought  more 
on  a  level  with  men,  fome  Superior  women,  like  the 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN. 

Greek  courtezans,  will  affemble  the  men  of  abilities 
around  them,  and  draw  from  their  families  many  citi 
zens,  who  would  have  ftayed  at  home,  had  their  wives 
had  more  fenfe,  or  tne  graces  which  refult  from  the 
exerciie  of  the  underfh,nding  and  f.ncy,  the  legitimate 
parents  of  taite.  A  woman  uf  talents,  if  ihe  be  not  ab- 
foiuteiy  ugly,  will  always  obtain  great  power,  raifed 
by  the  we^knefs  of  her  fexj  and  in  proportion  as  men 
acquire  virtue  and  delicacy ;  by  the  exertion  of  re.tfon, 
they  will  look  for  both  in  women,  but  they  can  only 
acquire  them  in  the  fame  way  that  men  do. 

In  i  ranee  or  Italy  h.ive  the  women  confined  them* 
felves  to  domeftic  life  ?  though  they  have  nol  hitherto 
had  a  political  exiilence,  yet,  have  they  no:  iineitiy 
had  great  fway  ?  corrupting  thcmfeives  and  the  men 
with  whofe  p.ifiions  they  payed.  In  (hort,  in  wh-iiever 
light  I  view  the  fubjecl,  reaion  and  experience  con 
vince  me,  that  the  on.  /  method  of  leading  women  co 
fulfil  their  peculiar  duties,  is  to  free  «'iem  from  ail  re- 
flraint  by  allowing  them  to  participate  the  inherent 
rights  of  mankind. 

M-.ke  them  free,  and  they  will  quickly  become  wife 
and  virtuous,  as  man  become  more  io  -,  Tor  tLe  improve 
ment  muft  be  mutual,  or  the  juihce  which  one  halt  of 
the  human  race  are  obliged  to  fub^it  to,  retorting  on 
their  oppreflbrs,  the  virtue  of  man  will  be  worm-eaten 
by  the  infeft  whom  he  keeps  under  his  feet. 

Let  men  take  their  ch  -ice,  man  and  woman  were 
made  for  each  other,  though  not  ;o  become  o,:e  being  ; 
and  if  they  will  not  improve  women,  tuey  will  deprave 
them! 


302  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

J  fpeak  of  the  impiovement  and  emancipation  of  the 
whoie  iex,  for  1  know  tiiat  the  behaviour  of  a  few  wo* 
men,  who,  b  accident,  or  following  a  ftrong  bent  of 
natuie,  nave  acquired  a  portion  cf  knowledge  luperior 
to  that  of  the  reft  of  their  fex,  has  often  been  overbear- 
ing;  but  there  have  been  inftances  of  women  who,  at- 
taming  knowieuge,  nave  nui  dhc.rded  modefty,  nor 
have  they  always  ^edaiKicaiiy  af  Beared  to  dcipiie  the 
ignorance  whica  they  laboured  10  aiipene  in  tlieir  own 
minds.  The  excJan;aiioni>  Uien  winch  <-ny  advice  re- 
fpeclmg  female  le.-.miug,  commonly  pruducej,  eipccuily 
from  pretty  wcii.ci..  c-i^n  ariie  lioiu  envy.  When  they 
chance  to  lee  that  even  the  iuiue  of  their  eyes,  and  the 
flippant  fportivenefs  of  reiined  coquetry  will  not  alway» 
fee  are  them  attention,  during  a  whole  evening,  lliould 
a  woman  of  a  more  cultivated  underrlanding  endeavour 
to  give  a  rational  turn  to  the  conversation,  the  common 
fource  of  confoiution  is,  that  fuch  women  ieidom  get 
hufbanas.  What  arts  have  I  not  feen  filly  women  ule  to 
interrupt  \>y  flirtation,  a  very  ftgnificant  word  todeicribe 
fucn  a  manoeuvre,  a  rational  converiadon  which  made 
the  men  forget  that  they  were  pretty  women. 

But,  allowing  what  is  very  natural  to  man,  that  the 
poflefiion  of  rare  abilities  is  really  calculated  to  excite 
over-weening  priie,  difgufting  in  both  men  and  women, 
in  what  a  flate  of  inferiority  muft  tiie  femaie  faculties 
have  rafted  when  fuch  a  fmull  portion  of  knowledge  as 
thofe  women  attained,  who  have  fneeringly  been  termed 
learned  women,  could  be  fmgular  ?- — Surl;cicntly  To  to 
puff  up  the  poffefibr,  and  excite  envy  in  her  contempo- 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  303 

raries,  and  fome  of  the  other  fex.   Nay,  has  not  a  little 
rationality  expofed  many  women  to  the  fevereft  cenfure?, 
I  advert   to  well-known  fads,  for  I   have  frequently 
heard  women  ridiculed,  and  every   little  weaknefs  ex 
pofed,  only  becaufe  they  adopted  the   advice  of  fome 
medical  men,  and  deviated  from  the  beaten  track   in 
their  mode  of  treating   their    infants.     I  have  actually 
heard  this  barbarous  averfion  to  innovation  carried  ftill 
further,  and  a  fenfible  woman  ftigmatized  as  an 
•  tural  mother,  who  has  thus  been  wifely  folicitous  to  pre- 
ferve  the  health  of  her  children,  when  in  the  midxrr  of  her 
care  me  has  loll  one  by  fome  of  the  culuaides  . 
which  no  prudence  can  ward  off.     Her    ac< 
have  obferved,  that  this  was  the  confcquence    of  new 
fangled  notions — the  nsw-fangl^d  notions  o 
cleanlinefs.     And  thofe  who  pretending  to  experience, 
though  they  have  Ion.    .,  have, 

according  to  the  opinion  of  the    moft  . 
cians,  thinned   the  n  . 
difafter  that  gave  a  kind    • 
Indeed,  if  it  were  only  : 
education  of  women  is  of  ti 
what  a  number  of  human  prejudices  are 
moloch  prejudice  1  And  in  how  many  ways  are  children 
deftroyed  by  the  lafcivioufnefs  of  man  ?    The  want  of 
natural  affection  in  many  women,  who  are  drawn  from, 
their  duty  by  the  admiration  of  me   ,  and  the  ignorance 
of  others,  render  the  infancy  cr       i  a  much  more  peril- 
|ous  ftate  than  that  of  brute^ ,  yet  men  are  unwilling  to 
place   women  in  fituations  proper  to  enable,  them  U> 
Dd 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

acquire  fufficient  understanding  to  know  how  even  td 
nurfe  their  babes. 

So  forcibly  does  this  truth  ftrike  me,  that  I  would 
reft  the  whole  tendency  of  my  reafoning  upon  it,  for 
whatever  tends  to  incapacitate  the  maternal  character, 
takes  woman  out  of  her  fphere. 

But  it  is  vain  to  expect  the  prefent  race  of  weak 
mothers  either  to  take  that  reafonable  care  of  a  child's 
body,  which  is  nece/Tary  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a  good 
conflitution,  fuppofing  that  it  do  not  fuffer  for  the  fins 
of  its  fathers ;  or  to  manage  its  temper  fo  judicioufly 
that  the  child  will  not  have,  as  it  grows  up,  to  throw 
off  all  that  its  mother,  its  firft  inftructor,  directly  or  in 
directly  taught,  and  unlefs  the  mind  has  uncommon  vi 
gour,  womanifn  follies  will  flick  to  the  chara&er  through 
out  life.  The  weakneis  of  the  mother  will  be  vifited  on 
the  children !  And  whilfl  women  are  educated  to  rely 
on  their  htrfbands  for  judgment,  this  mult  ever  be  the 
consequence,  for  there  is  no  improving  an  underftand- 
ing  by  halves,  nor  can  any  being  act  wifely  from  imita 
tion,  beeaafe  in  every  circumftance  of  life  there  is  a 
kind  of  individuality,  which  requires  an  exertion  of 
judgment  to  modify  general  rules.  The  being  who  can 
think  juftly  in  one  track,  will  foon  extend  its  intellec 
tual  empire  ;  and  ihe  who  has  fufficient  judgment  to 
manage  her  children,  will  not  fubmit  right  or  wrong  to 
her  huikind,  or  patently  to  the  focial  laws  which  makes 
a  non-entity  of  a  wife. 

In  public  fchools,  women,  to  guard  againft  the  errors 
of  ignorance,  mould  be  taught  the  elements  of  anatomy 


RIGHTS   OF    WOMAN.  305 

and  medicine,  not  only  to  enable  them  to  take  proper 
care  of  their  own  health,  but  to  make  them  rational 
nurfes  of  their  infants,  parents,  and  hulbands ;  for  the 
bills  of  mortality  are  fwelled  by  the  blunders  of  felf- 
willed  old  women,  who  give  noftrums  of  their  own, 
without  knowing  any  thing  of  the  human  frame.  It 
is  likewife  proper,  only  in  a  domeftic  view,  to  make 
women,  acquainted  with  the  anatomy  of  the  mind,  by 
allowing  the  fexes  to  affociate  together  in  every  pur- 
fuit;  and  by  leading  them  to  obferve  the  progrefs  of 
the  human  undemanding  in  the  improvement  of  the 
fciences  and  arts;  never  forgetting  the  fcience  of  mora 
lity,  nor  the  iludy  of  the  political  hiftory  of  mankind. 

A  man  has  been  termed  a  microcofm  ;  and  every  fa 
mily  might  alfo  be  called  a  ftate.  States,  it  is  true, 
have  moftly  been  governed  by  arts  that  difgrace  th« 
character  of  man;  and  the  want  of  a  juil  conftitution, 
and  equal  laws,  have  fo  perplexed  the  notions  of  the 
worldly  wife,  that  they  more  than  queftion  the  reafon- 
ablenefs  of  contending  for  the  rights  of  humanity. 
Thus  morality,  polluted  in  the  national  refervoir,  fends 
off  ftreams  of  vice  to  corrupt  the  conftituent  parts  of 
the  body  politic ;  but  mould  more  noble,  or  .rather 
more  juft  principles  regulate  the  laws,  which  ought  to 
be  the  government  of  fociety,  and  notthofe  who  execute 
them,  duty  might  become  the  rule  of  private  conduct. 

Befides,  by  the  exercife  of  their  bodies  and  minds, 

women  would  acquire  that  mental  activity  fo  neceflary 

in  the  maternal  character,  united  with  the  fortitude  that 

diftinguiflies   ileadinefs  of  conduct  from  the  obftinaj:* 

Ddz 


306  VINDICATION    CF    THE 

perverfenefs  of  weaknefs.  For  it  is  dangerous  to  advife 
'  the  indolent  to  be  fteady,  becaufe  they  inftantly  become 
rigorous,  and  to  fave  themfelves  trouble,  punifti  withie- 
verity  faults  that  the  patient  fortitude  of  reafon  might  have 
prevented.  But  fortitude  prefuppofcs  ftrength  of  mind, 
and  is  ftrength  of  mind  to  be  acquired  by  indolent  acqui- 
efcence  ?  By  aiking  advice  inftead  of  exerting  the  judg 
ment?  By  obeying  through  fear,  inftead  of  praftifmg  the 
forbearance,  which  we  all  Hand  in  need  of  ourfelves  ? 
The  conlcufion  which  I  vvifh  to  draw  is  obvious  ;  make 
TV  omen  rational  creatures  and  free  citizens,  and  they  will 
quickly  become  good  wives,  and  mothers  j  that  is — if 
men  do  not  negleft  the  duties  of  huibands  and  fathers. 

Difcufling  the  advantages  which  a  public  and  private 
education  combined,  as  I  have  iketched,  might  ration 
ally  be  expected  to  produce,  I  have  dwelt  moil  on  fuch 
as  are  particularly  relative  to  the  female  world,  becaufe 
I  think  the  female  world  opprefTed  ;  yet  the  gangrene 
which  the  vices  engendered  by  oppreflion  have  produced, 
is  not  confined  to  the  morbid  part,  but  pervades  fociety 
at  large  ;  fo  that  when  I  wilh  to  fee  my  fex  become  mere 
like  moral  agents,  my  heart  bounds  with  the  anticipa 
tion  of  the  general  diffufion  of  that  fublime  contentment 
which  only  morality  can  diiTufe. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  307 


CHAP.     XIII. 

Some  wftancts  of  the  folly  which  the  ignorance  of  Women 
generates  y  with  concluding  Reflexions  on  the  moral  im 
provement  that  a  Re-volution  in  female  Manners  might 
naturally  be  expecled  to  produce. 

L  HERE  are  many  follies,  in  fome  degree,  peculiar 
to  women:  fins  againft  reafon  of  commifiion  as  well  as 
of  orniffion;  but  all  flowing  from  ignorance  or  preju 
dice,  I  mall  only  point  out  fuch  as  appear  to  be  injurious, 
to  their  moral  character.  And  in  animadverting  on 
them,  I  wifti  efpecially  to  prove,  that  the  weaknefs  of 
mind  and  body,  which  men  have  endeavoured,  impelled 
by  various  motives,  to  perpetuate,  prevents  their  dif- 
charging  the  peculiar  duty  of  their  fox :  for  when  weak 
nefs  of  body  will  not  permit  them  to  fuckle  their  chil 
dren,  and  weaknefs  of  mind  makes  them  fpoil  their 
tempers — is  woman  in  a  natural  ftate  ? 

SECT.    I. 

ONE  glaring  inilance  of  the  weaknefs  which  proceeds 
from  ignorance/  firft  claims  attention,  and  calls  for 
fevere  reproof. 

In  this  metropolis  a  number  of  lurking  leeches  infa- 
moufly  gain  a  fubfiflence  by  praclifing  on  the  credulity 
of  women,  pretending  to  caft  nativities,  to  ufe  the 
technical  word ;  and  many  females,  who,  proud  of  their 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

rank  and  fortune,  look  down  on  ths  vulgar  with  fove- 
reign  contempt,  fhevv  by  this  credulity,  that  the  dif- 
tinclion  is  arbitrary,  and  that  they  have  not  fufficiently 
cultivated  their  minds  to  raife  above  vulgar  prejudices. 
Women,  becaufe  they  have  net  been  led*  to  confider  the 
knowledge  of  their  duty  a5  the  one  thing  neceffary  to 
know,  or,  to  live  in  the  prefent  moment  by  the  dif- 
charge  of  it,  are  very  anxious  to  peep  into  futurity,  to 
learn  what  they  have  to  expect  to  render  life  interefting, 
and  to  break  the  vacuum  of  ignorance. 

I  muft  be  allowed  to  expoflulate  ferioufly  with  the 
ladies,  who  follow  thefe  idle  inventions ;  for  ladies, 
midrefles  of  families,  are  not  afhamed  to  drive  in  their 
own  carriages  to  the  door  of  the  cunning  man,*  And 
if  any  of  them  mould  perufe  this  work,  I  entreat  them 
to  anfwer  to  their  own  hearts  the  following  queflions, 
not  forgetting  that  they  are  in  the  prefence  of  God. 

Do  you  believe  that  there  is  but  one  God,  and  that 
he  is  powerful,  wife,  and  good  ? 

Do  you  believe  that  ail  things  were  created  by  him, 
and  that  all  beings  are  dependent  on  him  ? 

Do  you  rely  on  his  wifdoni,  fo  confpicuous  in  his 
works,  and  in  your  own  frame,  and  are  you  convinced, 
that  he  has  ordered  all  things  which  do  not  come  under 
the  cognizance  of  your  fenfes,  in  the  fame  perfect  har 
mony,  to  fulfil  his  defigns  ? 

*  I  tnce  li'ved  in  t':c  neighbourhood  of  one  of  thefe  tncn^  a  hindfomc 
rr'j-:i,  and  f-..iv  fe  and  indignation  t  ii'Oincn^  nub'jfe  appearance 

,  nJ  ctt.  iLut  rank  in  ivbicb  females  arejupf'rjedto  rtfav* 

e  JupetiGf  education.  Jlock  to  bis  door. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  309 

Do  you  acknowledge  that  the  power  of  looking  into 
futurity,  and  feeing  things  that  are  not,  as  if  they  were, 
is  an  attribute  of  the  Creator  ?  And  fhould  he,  by  an 
impreilion  on  the  minds  of  his  creatures,  think  fit  to 
impart  them  fome  event  hid  in  the  fhades  of  time,  yet 
unborn,  to  whom  would  the  fecret  be  revealed  by  im 
mediate  infpiration?  The  opinion  of  ages  will  anfwer 
this  queiUon — to  reverend  old  men,  to  people  diiHn- 
guifhed  for  eminent  piety. 

The  oracles  of  old  were  thus  delivered  by  priefts  dedi 
cated  to  the  fervice  of  the  God,  who  was  fuppofed  to  in- 
fpire  them.  The  glare  of  worldly  pomp  which  fur- 
rounded  thefs  impofuors,  and  the  refpeci  paid  to  them 
by  artful  politicians,  who  knew  how  to  avail  themfelves 
of  this  ufeful  engine  to  bend  the  necks  of  the  ftrong  un 
der  the  dominion  of  the  cunning,  fpread  a  facred  rnyfte^ 
rious  veil  of  fanctity  over  their  lies  and  abominations. 
Impreffedby  fuch  folemn  devotional  parade,  a  Greek  or 
Roman  lady  might  be  excufed,  if  fiie  inquired  of  the 
oracie,  when  ilie  was  anxious  to  pry^into  futurity,  or  in 
quire  aboai  "fome  dubious  event:  and  her  inquiries, 
however  contrary  to  reafon  ,  could  not  be  reckoned  im 
pious. — Bur,  can  the  profeflbrs  of  Chriftianity  ward  off 
that  imputation  ?  Can  a  Chriilian  fuppoie,  that  the  fa 
vourites  of  the  moil  High,  the  highly  favoured,  would  be 
obliged  to  lurk  in  difguife,  and  pradile  the  moft  diflio- 

neft  tricks  to  cheat  filly  women  out  of  the  money . 

which  the  poor  cry  for  in  vain  ? 

Say  not  that  fuch  queflions  are  an  infult  to  common 
fenfc — for  it  is  your  own  conduct,  O  ye  foolifli  women  ! 


3IO  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

which  throws  an  odium  on  your  fex  1  And  thefe  reflec* 
tions  fhould  make  you  fhudder  at  your  thoughtlemiefs, 
and  irrational  devotion. — for  I  do  not  fuppoie,  tk  t  all 
of  you  laid  afide  your  religion,  fuch  as  it  is,  when  you 
entered  thofe  myilerious  dwellings.  Yet,  as  I  have 
throughout  fuppofed  myfelf  talking  to  ignorant  women, 
for  ignorant  ye  are  in  the  moft  emphatical  fenfe  of  the 
word,  it  would  be  abiurd  to  reaibn  with  you  on  the 
egregious  folly  of  defiring  to  know  what  the  Supreme 
Wiidorn  has  concealed. 

Probably  you  would  not  underftand  me,  were  I  to  at 
tempt  to  mew  you  that  it  would  be  abfolutely  inconfifix 
ent  with  the  grand  purpoie  of  lift,  that  of  rendering 
hun;an  creatures  wile  and  virtuous  :  and  that,  were  it 
fandioned  by  God,  it  would  diilurb  the  order  eftablifh- 
ed  in  creation  ;  and  if  it  be  not  fanclioned  by  God,  do 
you  exped  to  hear  truth  ?  Can  events  be  foretold,  events 
which  have  not  yet  aflumed  a  body  to  become  fubjecl:  to 
mortal  infpeclion,  can  they  be  forefeen  by  a  vicious 
worlding,  who  pampers  his  appetites  by  preying  on  the 
foolim  ones  ? 

Perhaps,  however,  you  devoutly  believe  in  the  devil, 
and  imagine,  to  mift  the  queftion,  that  he  may  affift  his 
votaries  ?  but,  if  really  refpeding  the  power  of  fuch  a 
being,  an  enemy  to  goodnefs  and  to  God,  can  you  go  to 
church  after  having  been  under  fuch  an  obligation  to  him. 

From  thefe  delufions  to  thofe  ftill  more  faihionable 
deceptions,  praftifed  by  the  whole  tribe  of  magnetifers, 
the  tranfition  is  very  natural.  With  refpedl  to  them,  it  ii 
equally  proper  to  aik  women  a  few  queitions. 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  3!* 

Do  you  know  any  thing  of  the  conllruftion  of  the  hu 
man  frame  ?  If  not,  it  is  proper  that  you  fhould  be 
told;  what  every  child  ought  to  know,  that  when  its 
admirable  ceconomy  has  been  difturbed  by  intempe 
rance  or  indolence,  I  fpeak  not  of  violent  diibrders, 
but  of  chronical  difeafes,  it  muft  be  brought  into  a 
healthy  ftate  again  by  flow  degrees,  and  if  the  func 
tions  of  life  have  not  been  materially  injured,  regimen, 
another  word  for  temperance,  air,  exercrfe,  and  a  few 
medicines  prefcribed  by  perfons  who  have  fludied  the 
human  body,  are  the  only  human  means,  yet  difcovered, 
of  recovering  that  ifieiUmable  bleiTmg  health,  that  will- 
bear  invefligation. 

Do  you  then  believe,  that  thefe  magnetifers,  who,  by 
hocus  pocus  tricks,  pretend,  to  work  a  miracle,  are  dele 
gated  by  God,  or  afiifted  by  the  folver  of  all  thefe  kind  of 
difficulties — the  devil. 

Do  they,  when  they  put  to  flight,  as  it  is  faid,  diibr 
ders  that  have  baffled  the  powers  of  medicine,  work  in 
conformity  to  the  light  of  reafon  ?  Or  do  they  effect  thefe 
wonderful  cures  by  fupernatural  aid  ? 

By  a  communication,  an  adept  may  anfwer,  with  the 

world  of  fpirits.    A  noble  privilege,  it  muft  be  allowed. 

1C  of  the  ancients   mention  familiar  daemons,  who 

•ded  them  from  danger,  by  kindly  intimating,  we 

cannot  guefs  in   what   manner,  when  any   danger  was 

nigh;  or  pointed  out  what   they  ought  to  undertake. 

Yet  the  men  who  laid   claim  to   this   privilege,  out  of 

the  order  of  nature,  infilled,  that  it  was  the  reward   or 

confequence  of  fuperior  temperance  and  piety.     But 


312  VINDICATION   OF   THE 

the  prefent  workers  of  wonders  are  not  raifed  above 
their  fellows  by  fuperior  temperance  or  fandtity.  They 
do  not  cure  for  the  love  of  God,  but  money.  Thefe 
are  the  priefts  of  quackery,  though  it  be  true  they 
have  not  the  convenient  expedient  of  felling  mafles 
for  fouls  in  purgatory,  nor  churches,  where  they  can 
difplay  crutches,  and  models  of  limbs  made  found  by 
a  touch  or  a  word. 

I  am  not  converfant  with  the  technical  terms,  nor 
initiated  into  the  arcana,  therefore  I  may  fpeak  impro 
perly  ;  but  it  is  clear,  that  men  who  will  not  conform 
to  the  law  of  reafon,  and  earn  a  fubfiftenee  in  an  ho- 
neft  way,  by  degrees,  are  very  fortunate  in  becoming 
acquainted  with  fuch  obliging  fpirits.  We  cannot, 
Indeed,  give  them  credit  for  either  great  fagacity  or 
goodnefs,  elfe  they  would  have  chofen  more  noble 
inftruments,  when  they  wimed  to  mew  themfelves  the 
benevolent  friends  of  man. 

It  is,  however,  little  iliort  of  blafphemy  to  pretend 
to  fuch  powers ! 

From  the  whole  tenor  of  the  difpenfations  of  Provi 
dence,  it  appears  evident  to  fober  reafon,  that  certain 
vices  produce  certain  effecls ;  and  can  any  one  fo 
grofsly  infult  the  wifdom  of  God,  as  to  fuppofe,  that  a 
miracle  will  be  allowed  to  difturb  his  general  laws,  to 
reflore  to  health  the  intemperate  and  vicious,  merely  to 
enable  them  to  purfue  the  fame  courfe  with  impunity  ? 
Be  whole,  and  fin  no  more,  faid  jefus.  And  are  greater 
miracles  to  be  performed  by  thofe  who  do  not  follow  his 
footiteps,  who  healed  the  body  to  reach  the  mind? 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  315 

The  mentioning  of  the  name  of  Chrift  after  fuch 
vile  impoftors  may  difpleafe  fome  of  my  readers — I 
refpedl  their  warmth;  but  let  them  not  forget,  that  the 
followers  of  tliefe  delufions  bear  his  name,  and  profefs 
to  be  the  difciples  of  him,  who  faid,  by  their  works 
we  fhould  know  who  were  the  children  of  God  or  the 
fervants  of  fin.  I  allow  that  it  is  ealier  to  touch  the 
body  of  a  faint,  or  to  be  magnetiied,  than  to  reftrain 
our  appetites  or  govern  our  puinons ;  but  health  of 
body  or  mind  can  only  be  recovered  by  thefe  means,  or 
we  make  the  Supreme  Judge  partial  and  revengeful. 

Is  he  a  man,  that  he  mould  change,  or  punifh  out  of 
refentment  ?  He — the  common  father,  wounds  but  to 
heal,  fays  reafon,  and  our  irregularities  producing  cer 
tain  confequences,  we  are  forcibly  fhewn  the  nature  of 
vice ;  that  thus  learning  to  know  good  from  evil,  by 
experience,  we  may  hate  one  and  love  the  other,  in 
proportion  to  the  wifdom  which  we  attain.  The  poi- 
fon  contains  the  antidote;  and  we  either  reform  our 
evil  habits,  and  ceafe  to  fin  againft  our  own  bodies,  to 
ufe  the  forcible  language  of  fcripture,  or  a  premature 
death,  the  punimment  of  fin,  ihaps  the  thread  of  life. 

Kere  an  awful  Hop  is  put  to  our  inquiries. — But,  why 
ftiould  I  conceal  my  fentiments  ?  Coniidering  the  a-n-i- 
butes  of  God,  I  believe,  that  whatever  punimn  ent  rmy 
follow,  will  tend,  like  the  anguim  of  diieafe,  to  lho\v  the 
malignity  of  vice,  for  the  purpofe  of  reformation.  Po- 
fitive  punishment  appears  fo  contrary  to  the  nature  of 
God,  difcoverable  in  all  his  works,  and  in  our  own  rea 
fon,  that  I  could  fooner  believe  that  the  Deity  paid  no 


314  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

attention  to  the  conduct  of  men,  than  that  he  puniihed 
without  the  benevolent  deiign  of  reforming. 

To  fuppofe  only,  that  an  all-wife  and  powerful  Being, 
as  good  as  he  is  great,  fhould  create  a  being,  foreiee- 
ing  that  after  fifty  or  iixty  years  of  feverifh  exiflence,, 
it  would  be  plunged  into  never-ending  woe — is  blaf- 
phemy.  On  what  will  the  worm  feed  that  is  never  to 
die  ? — On  folly,  on  ignorance,  fay  ye — I  mould  blufh 
indignantly  at  drawing  the  natural  conclufion,  could  I 
infert  it,  and  wiih  to  withdraw  myielf  from  the  wing 
of  my  God  !— *-On  fuch  a  iuppoiitlon,  I  fpeak  with  re 
verence,  he  would  be  a  coniurning  fire.  We  fhould  wim, 
though  vainly,  to  fly  from  his  prefence  when  fear  ab- 
forbed  love,  and  darknefs  involved  all  his  counfels. 

I  know  that  many  devout  people  boafl  of  fubmitting 
to  the  Will  of  God  blindly,  as  to  an  arbitrary  fceptre 
or  rod,,  on  the  fame  principle  as  the  Indians  worfhip 
the  devil.  In  other  words,  like  people  in  the  common 
concerns  of  life,  they  do  homage  to  power,  and  cringe 
under  the  foot  that  can  cruih  them.  Rational  religion, 
on  the  contrary,  is  a  fubmiffion  to  the  will  of  a  being 
fo  perfectly  wife,  that  all  he  wills  muft  be  directed  by 
the  proper  motive — muft  be  reafonable. 

And,  if  thus  we  refpecl:  God,  can  we  give  credit  to 
the  myfterious  infmuations  which  infult  his  laws  ?  Can 
we  believe,  though  it  mould  flare  us  in  the  face,  that 
he  would  work  a  miracle  to  authorize  confufion  by 
fandioning  an  error  ?  Yet  we  muft  either  allow  thefe 
impious  conclufions,  or  treat  with  contempt  every  pro- 
mife  to  reflore  health  to  a  difeafed  body  by  fupernatural 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  315 

means,  or  to  foretel,  the  incidents   that  can  only  be 
forefeen  by  God. 

SECT.     II. 

ANOTHER  inilance  of  that  feminine  weaknefs  of 
chara&er,  often  produced  by  a  confined  education,  is 
a  romantic  twift  of  the  mind,  which  has  been  very  pro 
perly  termed  fentimental. 

Women,  fubje&ed  by  ignorance,  to  their  fenfations, 
and  only  taught  to  look  for  happinefs  in  love,  refine 
on  fenfual  feelings,  and  adopt  metaphyfical  r 
refpedting  that  paffion,  which  lead  them  Ihamefully  to 
neglect  the  duties  of  life,  and  frequently  in  the  midft  of 
thefe  fublime  refinements  they  plump  into  actual  vice. 

Thefe  are  the  women  who  are  amufed  by  the  reveriei 
of  the  ftupid  novelifts,  who,  knowing  little  of  human 
nature,  work  up  Hale  tales,  and  defcribe  meretricious 
icenes,  all  retailed  in  a  fentimental  jargon,  which 
equally  tend  to  corrupt  the  tafte,  and  draw  the  heart 
afide  from  its  daily  duties.  I  do  not  mention  th* 
underftanding,  becaufe  never  having  been  exercifed, 
its  flumbering  energies  reft  inactive,,  like  the  lurking 
particles  of  fire,  which  are  fuppofed  univerfally  to  per 
vade  matter. 

Females,  in  faft,  denied  all  political  privileges,  and 
not  allowed,  as  married  women,  excepting  in  criminal 
cafes,  a  civil  exiftence,  have  their  attention  naturally 
drawn  from  the  intereft  of  the  whole  community  to 
that  of  the  minute  parts,  though  the  private  duty  of 
£  t 


.  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

any  member  of  fociety  mull  be  very  imperfectly  per 
formed,  when  not  connected  with  the  general  good. 
The  mighty  bufmefs  of  female  life  is  to  pleafe,  and, 
retrained  from  entering  into  more  important  concerns 
by  political  and  civil  oppreffion,  fentiments  become 
events,  and  reflection  deepens  what  it  faould,  and 
would  have  effaced,  if  the  undemanding  had  been 
allowed  to  take  a  wider  range. 

But,  confined  to  trifling  employments,  they  naturally 
e  opinions  which  the  only  kind  of  reading  calcu 
lated  to  interefl  an  innocent  frivolous  mind,  infpires. 
Unable  to  grafp  any  thing  great,  is  it  furprifmg  that 
they  find  the  reading  of  hiftoiy  a  very  dry  talk,  and 
difquifitions  addreffed  to  the  undemanding,  intolerably 
tedious,  and  almofl  unintelligible?  Thus  are  they 
necefi~:rily  dependent  on  the  noveliil  for  amufement. 
Yet,  wnen  I  exclaim  agair.il  novels,  I  mean  when  con-. 
with  thole  works  which  exercife  the  underiland- 
ing  and  regulate  the  imagination.-— For  any  kind  of 
reading  I  think  better  than  leaving  a  blank  flill  a 
blank,  becaufe  the  mind  mull  receive  a  degree  of  en- 
ent,  and  obtain  a  little  ftrength  by  a  flight 
exertion  of  its  thinking  powers;  beildes,  even  the 
produ&ions  that  are  only  addreffed  to  the  imagination, 
raife  the  reader  a  little  above  the  grofs  gratification  of 
appetites,  to  which  the  mind  has  not  given  a  {hade  of 
delicacy. 

This  obfervation  is  the  refult  of  experience ;  for  I 
have  known  feveral  notable  women,  and  one  in  parti 
cular,  who  was  a  very  good  woman — as  good  as  fuch  a 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN",  $IJ 

narrow  mind  would  allow  her  to  be,  who  took  care  tL.it 
her  daughters  (three  in  number)  fhcu'-  fee  a  no 

vel.  As  fhe  was  a  woman  of  fortune  and  feihion,  they 
had  various  mailers  to  attend  them,  and  a  fort  of  me 
nial  governefs  to  watch  their  footfteps.  From  their 
matters  they  learned  how  tables,  chairs,  &c.  were  called 
in  French  and  Italian;  but  as  the  few  books  thrown 
in  their  way  were  far  above  their  capacities,  or  devo 
tional,  they  neither  acquired  ideas  nor  fentiments,  and 
pa  fled  their  time,  when  not  compelled  to  repeat  words, 
in  dreffing,  quarrelling  with  each  other,  or  converfiag 
with  their  maids  by  Health,  till  they  were  brought  into 
company  as  marriageable. 

Their  mother,  a  widow,  war:  bufy  In  the  mean  time 
in  keeping  up  her  connections,  as  me  termed  a  nume 
rous  acquaintance,  leil  her  girls  mould  want  a  proper 
introduction  into  the  great  world.  And  thefe  young 
ladies,  with  minds  vulgar  in  every  fenfe  of  the  word, 
and  fpolled  tempers,  entered  life  puffed  up  with  notions 
of  their  own  confequence,  and  looking  down  with 
contempt  on  thofe  who  could  not  vie  with  them  in 
drefs  and  parade. 

With  refpecl  to  love,  nature,  or  their  nurfes,  had 
taken  care  to  teach  them  the  phyflcal  meaning  of  the 
word;  and,  as  they  had  fev/  topics  of  converia: 
and  fewer  refinements  of  fentiment,  they  exprefied 
their  grofs  wiflies  not  in  very  deiicnte  phrafes,  when 
they  fpoke  freely,  talking  of  matrimony. 

Could  thefe  girls  have  been  injured  by  the  perufal  of 
novels  ?  I  almoft  forgot  a  {hade  in  the  character  of  ens 
Ee  2 


318  VINDICATION    OF    THfi 

of  them  ;  fhe  affected  a  fimplicity  bordering  on  folly,  and 
with  a  fimper  would  utter  the  moft  immodeil  remarks 
and  quefiions,  the  full  meaning  of  which  fhe  had  learned 
whilii  fecluded  from  the  world,  and  afraid  to  fpeak  in 
her  mother's  prefence,  who  governed  with  a  high  hand: 
they  were  all  educated,  as  fhe  prided  herfelf,  in  a  moft 
exemplary  manner;  and  read  their  chapters  and  pfalms 
before  breakfaft,  never  touching  a  filly  novel. 

This  i.s  only  one  inflance ;  but  I  recollect  many  other 
women,  who,  not  led  by  degrees  to  proper  lludies,  and 
not  permitted  to  choofe  for  themfelves,  have  indeed 
been  overgrown  children ;  or  have  obtained,  by  mix 
ing  in  the  world,  a  little  of  what  is  termed  common 
fenfe ;  that  is,  a  diflinct  manner  of  feeing  common 
occurrences,  as  they  flancl  detached :  but  what  defervea 
the  name  of  intellect,  the  power  of  gaining  general  or 
abftradt  ideas,  or  even  intermediate  ones,  was  out  of 
the  queflicn.  Their  minds  were  quiefcent,  and  when 
they  were  not  roufed  by  fenfible  objects  and  employ 
ments  of  that  kind,  they  were  low-fpirit^d,  would  cry, 
or  go  to  ileep. 

When,  therefore,  I  advife  my  fex  not  to  read  fuch 
flimfy  works,  it  is  to  induce  them  to  read  fomething 
fuperior ,  for  I  coincide  in  opinion  wkh  a  fagacious 
man,  who,  having  a  daughter  and  niece  under  his  care, 
purfued  a  very  different  plan  with  each. 

The  niece,  who  had  confiderable  abilities,  had,  be 
fore  fhe  was  left  to  his  guardianfhip,  been  indulged  in 
defultory  reading.  Ker  he  endeavoured  to  lead,  and 
did  lead,  to  hiftory  and  moral  effays  j  but  his  daughter, 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN. 


319 


whom  a  fond,  weak  mother  had  indulged,  and  who  con- 
fequently  was  averfe  to  every  thing  like  application,  he 
allowed  to  read  novels;  and  ufed  to  juftify  his  conduct 
by  faying,  that  if  (lie  ever  attained  a  relifli  for  ix 
them,  he  mould  have  fome  foundation  to  work  upon  ; 
and  that  erroneous  opinions  were  better  than  none  at  all. 

In  fad,  the  female  mind  has  been  fo  totally  neglected, 
that  knowledge  was  only  to  be  acquired  from  this 
muddy  fource,  till  from  reading  novels  fome  women  of 
fuperior  talents  learned  to  defpife  them, 

Tiie  bed  method,  I  believe,  that  can  be  adopted  to 
correct  a  fondneis  for  novels  is  to  ridicule  them  :  not  in- 
difcrimmately,  for  then  it  would  have  little  effect ;  but, 
if  a  judicious  perfon,  with  fome  turn  for  humour,  would 
read  feveral  to  a  young  girl,  and  point  out,  both  by 
tones  and  apt  comparifotr.,  with  pathetic  incidents  and 
heroic  characters  in  hiftory,  how  foe  .nd  ridicu- 

loufly  they  caricatured  human  nature,  ju  might 

be  fubilituted  iniicad  of  romantic  fentiments. 

In  one  refpecl,  however,  the  majority  of  bsth 
refemble,  and  equally  (how  a  want  of  a  ufte  and  moclefjy. 
Ignorant  women,  forced  to  be   chafte  to  prefer v; 
reputation,  allow  their  imagination  to  revel  in  the  un 
natural  and  meretricious   fcenes  fk  etc  lied  by  the  novel 
writers  of  the  day,  flighting  as  infipid  the  fober  dignity 
and  matronly  grace  of  hiflory,*  whilit   men  carry  the 

*   /  am  not  twiu  alluding  to   i'jat  f:;f>crio;-iiy    of  :: 
t':e  creation  of  ideal  teauty,  <wben  life,  furveyt 

appears  a   trapi  comedy    in    "Which  little  can 
•Miihwt  the  be'p  of  fane -ft 

Ee3 


320  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

fame  vitiated  tafte  into  life,  and  fly  for  amufement  to 
th^  wanton,  from  the  unfophifticated  charms  of  virtue, 
and  the  grave  refpectabiiity  of  fenfe. 

JSefiJes,  the  reading  of  novels  makes  women,  and 
particularly  ladies  of  fafhion,  very  fond  of  ufmg  ftrong 
expreffions  and  fuperlatives  in  converfation  ;  and,  though 
the  diffipated  artificial  life  which  they  lead  prevents 
their  cheri filing  any  flrong  legitimate  paffion,  the 
language  of  pafTion  in  affecled  tones  flips  for  ever  from 
their  glib  tongues,  and  every  trifle  produces  thofe  phof- 
phoric  burils  which  only  mimic  in  the  dark  the  fianu 
of  paffion. 

SECT.    III. 

IGNORANCE  and  the  miftaken  cunning  that  natui 
marpens  in  weak  heads,  as  a  principle  of  felf-preferv; 
tion,   render   women  very  fond  of  drefs,   and  produc< 
all  the   vanity  which   fuch  a  fondnefs  may  naturally 
expected  to  generate,    to  the    exclufion  of   emulatioi 
and  magnanimity. 

I  agree  with  RoufTeau,  that  the  phyfical  part  of  tJ 
art  of  pleafing  confifts  in  ornaments,  and  for  that  ver] 
reafon  I  mould  guard  girls  againft  the  contagious  fond 
nefs  for  drefs,  fo  common  to  weak  women,  that  they  ma] 
not  reft  in  the  phyfical  part.  Yet,  weak  are  thewomei 
who  imagine,  that  they  can  long  pleafe  without  the  ait 
of  the  mind  ;  or,  in  other  words,  without  the  moral  art 
of  pleafing.  But  the  moral  art,  if  it  be  not  a  profana 
tion  to  ufe  the  word  art,  whsn  alluding  to  the  grace 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN.  32j 

which  is  an  effeft  of  virtue,  and  not  the  motive  of  ac- 
vtion,  is  never  to  be  found  with  ignorance  ;  the  fportive- 
nefs  of  innocence,  fopleafmg  to  refined  libertines  of  both 
fexes,  is  widely  different  in  its  effence  from  this  fuperior 
gracefulnefs. 

A  ftrong  inclination  for  external  ornaments  ever  ap 
pears  in  barbarous  flates,  only  the  men  not  the  women 
adorn  themfelves ;  for  where  women  are  allowed  to  be 
fo  far  on  a  level  with  men,  fociety  has  advanced  at  leail 
one  ilep  in  civilization. 

The  attention  to  drefs,  therefore,  which  has  been 
thought  a  fexual  propeniity,  I  think  natural  to  mankind. 
But  I  ought  to  exprefs  myfelf  with  more  precifion. 
When  the  mind  is  not  fufHciently  opened  to  take  plea- 
fure  in  reflection,  the  body  will  be  adorned  with  fedu- 
lous  care  j  and  ambition  will  appear  in  tattooing  or 
painting  it. 

So  far  is  the  firft  inclination  carried,  that  even  the 
hellifh  yoke  of  flavery  cannot  ftifle  the  favage  defire  of 
admiration,  which  the  black  heroes  inherit  from  both 
their  parents,  for  all  the  hardly-earned  favings  ofafiave 
are  commonly  expended  in  a  little  tawdry  finery.  And 
I  have  feldom  known  a  good  male  or  female  fervant 
that  was  not  particularly  fond  of  drefs.  Their  clothes 
were  their  riches ;  and  I  argue  from  analogy,  that  the 
fondnefs  for  drefs,  fo  extravagant  in  females,  arifes  from 
the  fame  caufe — want  of  cultivation  of  mind.  When 
men  meet,  they  converfe  about  bufmefs,  politics,  or  lite 
rature;  but,  fays  Swift,  '  how  naturally  do  women 
•  apply  their  hands  to  each  others  lappets  and  ruffles.' 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

.And  very  natural  is  it — for  they  have  not  any  bufmefs 
to  intereft  them,  have  not  a  talte  for  literature,  and  they 
find  politics  dry,  becaufe  they  have  not  acquired  a  love 
for  mankind  by  turning  their  thoughts  to  the  grand 
purfuits  that  exalt  the  human  race  and  promote  general 
happinefs. 

Eefides,  various  are  the  paths  to  power  and  fame, 
\vhich  by  accident  or  choice  men  purfue,  and  though 
they  joflle  againfi  each  other,  for  men  of  the  fame  pro- 
fefiion  are  feldom  friends:  yet  there  is  a  much  greater 
number  of  their  fellow-creatures  with  whom  they  never 
clam.  But  women  are  very  differently  fituated  with 
refpedt  to  each  other — for  they  are  all  rivals. 

Before  marriage  it  is  their  bufmefs  to  pleafe  men;  and 
after,  with  a  few  exceptions,  they  follow  the  famefcent, 
with  all  the  perfevering  pertinacity  of  inftinct.  Even 
virtuous  women  never  forget  their  fex  in  company,  for 
they  are  for  ever  trying  to  make  tliemfelves  agreeable* 
A  female  beauty  and  a  male  wit,  appear  to  be  equally 
anxious  to  draw  the  attention  of  the  company  to 
themfelves  ;  and  the  animofity  of  contemporary  wits 
is  proverbial. 

Is  it  then  furpriiing,  that  when  the  fole  ambition  of 
woman  centres  in  beauty,  and  intereft  gives  vanity  ad 
ditional  force,  perpetual  rivalfhips  ihould  enfue  ?  They 
are  all  running  the  £;me  race,  and  would  rife  above  the 
virtue  of  mortals,  if  they  did  not  view  each  other  with 
a  fufpicious  and  even  envious  eye. 

An  immoderate  fondnefs  fordrefs,  for  pleafure  and  for 
fway,arethepaffions  of  favages ;  the  paffions  that  occupy 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN'.  323 

thofe  uncivilized  beings  who  have  not  yet  extended 
the  dominion  of  the  mind,  or  even  learned  to  think  with 
the  energy  neceffary  to  concatenate  that  abftract  train  of 
thought  which  produces  principles.  And  that  women, 
from  their  education  and  the  prefent  ftate  of  civilized 
life,  are  in  the  fame  condition,  cannot,  I  think,  be  con 
troverted.  To  laugh  at  them  then,  or  fatirize  the  fol 
lies  of  a  being  who  is  never  to  be  allowed  to  aft  freely 
from  the  light  of  her  own  reafon,  is  as  abfurd  as  cruel  ; 
for  that  they  who  are  taught  blindly  to  obey  authority, 
will  endeavour  cunningly  to  elude  it,  is  moil  natural 
and  certain. 

Yet  let  it  be  proved,  that  they  ought  to  obey  man 
implicitly,  and  I  mall  immediately  agree,  that  it  is  wo 
man's  duty  to  cultivate  a  fondnefs  for  drefs,  in  order 
to  pleafe,  and  a  propenfity  to  cunning  for  her  own  pre 
fer  vation. 

The  virtues,  however,  which  are  fupported  by  igno 
rance,  muft  ever  be  wavering — the  houfe  built  on  fand 
could  not  endure  a  ftorm.  It  is  almoft  unneceflary  to 
draw  the  inference. — If  women  are  to  be  made  virtuous 
by  authority,  which  is  a  contradiction  in  terms,  let  them 
be  immured  in  feraglios  and  watched  with  a  jealous  eye. 
Fear  not  that  the  iron  will  enter  into  their  fouls — for  the 
fouls  that  can  bear  fuch  treatment  are  made  of  yielding 
materials,  juft  animated  enough  to  give  life  to  the  body. 

'  Matter  to  foft  a  lajling  mark  to  bear^ 

*  And  bejl  dijl  ingulfed  by  blatk,  broivn,  or  fair? 

The  mofl  cruel  wounds  will  of  courfe  foon  heal,  and  they 


324  VINDICATION    OF    THI 

may  flill  people  the  world  and  drefs  to  pleafe  man — all 
tiie  purpofes  which  certain  celebrated  writers  have  al 
lowed  that  they  were  created  to  fill. 

SECT.     IV. 

WOMEN  are  fuppofed  to  pofTefs  more  fenfibility,  and 
even  humanity,  than  men,  and  their  ftrong  attachments 
and  inftantaneous  .emotions  of  companion  are  given  as 
proofs ;  but  the  clinging  affection  of  ignorance  has  fel- 
dom  any  thing  noble  in  it,  and  may  moflly  be  refolved 
into  feliifhnefs,  as  well  as  the  affeclion  of  children  and 
brutes.  I  have  known  many  weak  women  whofe  fenfi- 
bility  was  entirely  engrofTed  by  their  hufbands;  and 
as  for  their  humanity,  it  was  very  faint  indeed,  or  ra 
ther  it  was  only  a  tranfient  emotion  of  companion. 
f  Humanity  does  not  confift  in  a  fcjueamim  ear,*  fay» 
an  eminent  orator,  '  It  belongs  to  the  mind  as  well  as 
'  the  nerves.' 

But  this  kind  of  exclufive  affeclion,  though  it  degrade 
the  individual,  (houid  not  be  brought  forward,  as.  a 
proof  of  the  inferiority  of  the  fex,  becaufe  it  is  the  na 
tural  confequence  of  confined  views :  for  even  women 
of  fuperior  fenie,  having  their  attention  turned  to  little 
employments)  and  private  plans,  rarely  rife  to  hercifm,. 
uniefs  when  fpurred  on  by  love;  and  love,  as  an  heroic 
pailion,like  genius,  appears  but  once  in  an  age.  I  there 
fore  agree  with  the  moralift  who  afierts,  '  that  women 
(  have  feldom  fo  much  generofity  as  men  ;'  and  that 
their  narrow  affections,  to  which  jufdce  and  humanity  are 


RIGHTS    OF  VfOMAtf.  325 

often  facriiiced,  render  the  fex  apparently  inferior, 
efpecially  as  they  are  commonly  infpired  by  men  ;  but 
I  contend,  that  the  heart  would  expand  as  the  under- 
jftanding  gained  ftrength,  if  women  were  not  depreffed 
from  their  cradles. 

I  know  that  a  little  fenfibility  and  great  weaknefs  will 
produce  a  ft rongfexual  attachment,  and  that  reafon  muft 
cement  friendihip  ;  confequently  I  allow,  that  more 
friendfhip  is  to  be  found  in  the  male  than  the  female 
world,  and  that  men  have  a  higher  fenfe  of  juftice. 
The  cxclufive  affections  of  women  feem  indeed  to  re- 
femble  Cato's  moft  unjuft  love  for  his  country.  He 
wiflied  to  crufh  Carthage,  not  to  fave  Rome,  but  to 
promote  its  vain  glory  ;  and  in  general,  it  is  to  fimilar 
principles  that  humanity  is  facrificed,  for  genuine  duties 
fupport  each  other. 

Befides,  how  can  women  be  juft  or  generous,  when 
they  are  the  (laves  of  injuftice. 

SECT.     V. 

As  the  rearing  of  children,  that  is,  the  laying  a  foun 
dation  of  found  health  both  of  body  and  mind  in  the  rifmg 
generation,  has  juilly  been  infilled  on  as  the  peculiar  def- 
ti nation  of  woman,  the  ignorance  that  incapacitates  them 
muft  be  contrary  to  the  order  of  things.  And  I  contend, 
that  their  minds  can  take  in  much  more,  and  ought  to  do 
fo,  or  they  will  never  become  fenfible  mothers.  Many 
niv'i  aucau  to  the  breeding  of  horfes,  and  overlook  the 


326  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

management  of  the  ftable,  who  would,  flrange  want  of 
fenfe  and  feeling  !  think  themfelves  degraded  by  paying 
any  attention  to  the  nurfery ;  yet,  how  many  children 
are  abfolutely  murdered  by  the  ignorance  of  women! 
But  when  they  efcape,  and  are  neither  deftroyed  by  un 
natural  negligence  nor  blind  fondnefs,  how  few  are  ma 
naged  properly  with  refpect  to  the  infant  mind  !  So  that 
to  break  the  fpirit,  allowed  to  become  vicious  at  home,  a 
child  is  fent  to  fchool ;  and  the  methods  taken  there, 
which  muft  be  taken  to  keep  a  number  of  children  in 
order,  fcatter  the  feeds  of  almofl  every  vice  in  the  foil 
thus  forcibly  torn  up. 

I  have  fometimes  compared  the  ftruggles  of  thefe  poor 
children  who  ought  never  to  have  felt  reilraint,nor  would, 
had  they  been  always  held  in  with  an  even  hand,  to  the 
defpairing  plunges  of  a  fpirited  filly,  which  I  have  £een 
breaking  on  a  "ftrand  :  its  feet  finking  deeper  and  deeper 
in  the  fand  every  time  it  endeavoured  to  throw  its  rider, 
till  at  laft  it  fullenly  fubmitted. 

I  have  always  found.horfes,  an  animal  I  am  attached  to, 
very  tractable  when  treated  with  humanity  and  fteadi- 
nefs,  fo  that  I  doubt  whether  the  violent  methods  taken 
to  break  them,  do  not  eiTentially  injure  them ;  I  am,  how 
ever,  certain  that  a  child  mould  never  be  thus  forcibly 
tamed  after  it  has  injudicioufly  been  all  owed  to  run  wild  > 
for  every  violation  of  juftice  and  reafon,  in  the  treatment 
of  children,  weakens  their  reafon.  And,fo  early  do  they 
catch  a  character,  that  the  bafe  of  the  moral  character, 
experience  leads  me  to  infer,  is  fixed  before  their  feventh 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  327 

year,  the  period  during  which  women  are  aj  owed  the 
fole  management  of  children.  Afterwards  it  too  often 
happens  that  half  the  bufmefs  of  education  is  to  correcl, 
and  very  impefe&ly  is  it  done,  if  done  haitily,  the  faults, 
which  they  would  never  have  acquired  if  their  mothers 
had  had  more  underftanding. 

One  ftriking  inflance  of  the  folly  of  women  muft  not 
be  omitted. — The'manner  in  which  they  treat  fervants  in 
the  prefence  of  children,  permitting  them  to  fuppofe,  that 
they  ought  to  wait  on  them,  and  bear  their  humours.  A 
child  mould  always  be  made  to  receive  afliftance  from  * 
man  or  woman  as  a  favour ;  and,  as  the  firfc  lefTon  of  in 
dependence,  they  mould  pradically  be  taught,  by  the 
example  of  their  mother,  not  to  require  that  perfonal 
attendance  which  it  is  an  infult  to  humanity  to  require, 
when  in-,  health;  and  inflead  of  being  led  to  aflume  airs 
of  eonfequence,  a  fenfe  of  their  own  weaknefs  mould  nrft 
make  them  feel  the  natural  equality  of  man.  Yet,  how 
frequently  have  I  indignantly  heard  fervants  imperioufiy 
called  to  p'ut  children  to  bed,  and  fent  away  agaki  and 
again,  becaufe  mafter  or  mifs  hung  about  mania,  to  ftay 
a  little  longer.  Thus  made  flavifhly  to  attend  the  little 
idol,  all  thofe  moft  difgufting  humours  where  exhibited 
which  characterize  afpoiledchild. 

In  fhort,  fpeaking  of  the  majority  of  mothers,  they 
leave  their  children  entirely  to  the  care  of  fervants:  or, 
becaufe  they  are  their  children,  treat  them  as,  if  they  were 
little demi-gods,  though  1  have  always  obferved,that  the 
women  who  thus  idolize  their  children,  feldom  mew  com- 
Ff 


VINDICATION    OF    THE 

mon  humanity  tofervants,  or  feel  the  leaft  tendernefs  for 
any  children  but  their  own. 

It  is,  however,  thefe  exclufive  affe&ions,  and  an  indi 
vidual  manner  of  feeing  things,  produced  by  ignorance, 
which  keep  women  for  ever  at  a  fland,  with  refpecl  to 
improvement,  and  make  many  of  them  dedicate  their 
lives  to  their  children  only  to  weaken  their  bodies  and 
fpbil  their  tempers,  fruflrating  alfo  any  plan  of  educa 
tion  that  a  more  rational  father  may  adopt;  for,  unlefs  a 
mother  concurs,  the  father  who  retrains  will  ever  be 
confidered  as  a  tyrant. 

But,  fulfilling  the  duties  of  a  mother,  a  woman  with  a 
found  conflitution,  may  ftill  keep  herperfcn  fcrupuloufly 
neat,  and  affiil  to  maintain  her  family,  if  necefTary, 
or  by  reading  and  converfations  with  both  fexes,  indif- 
criminately,  improve  her  mind.  For  nature  has  fo  wifely 
ordered  things,  that  did  women  fuckle  their  children, 
they  would  preferve  their  own  health,  and  there  would 
be  fuch  an  interval  between  the  birth  of  each  child,  that 
we  mould  feldom  fee  a  houfe  full  of  babes.  And  did  they 
purfue  a  plan  of  conduft,  and  notwafte  their  time  in  fol 
lowing  the  fafhionable  vagaries  of  drefs,  the  management 
of  their  houfehold  and  children  need  not  (hut  them  out 
from  literature,  nor  prevent  their  attaching  themfelves  to  a 
fcience,  with  that  Heady  eye  which  ftrengthens  the  mind, 
or  pra&ifmg  one  of  the  fine  arts  that  cultivate  the  taile. 

But,  vifiting  to  difplay  finery,  card-playing,  and  balls, 
not  to  mfention  the  idle  buftle  of  morning  trifling,  draw 
women  from  their  duty,  to  render  them  infignificant,  t® 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN. 

render  them  pleafmg,  according  to  the  prefent  accepta 
tion  of  the  word,  to  every  man,  but  their  hufband.  Fora 
round  of  pleafures  in  which  the  affections  are  not  exer- 
cifed,  cannot  be  faid  to  improve  the  underftanding, 
though  it  be  erroneoufly  called  feeing  the  world  ;  yet  the 
heart  is  rendered  cold  and  averfe  to  duty,  by  fuch  a  fenfe- 
lefs  intercourfe,  which  becomes  neceffary  from  habit, 
even  when  it  has  ceafed  to  amufe. 

But,  till  more  equality  be  eflablimed  in  fociety,  till 
ranks  are  confounded  and  women  freed,  we  mall  not  fee 
that  dignified  domeftic  happinefs,  the  fimple  grandeur  of 
which  cannot  be  relifhed  by  ignorant  or  vitiated  minds ; 
nor  will  the  important  talk  of  education  ever  be  properly 
begun  till  the  perfon  of  a  woman  is  no  longer  preferred 
to  her  mind.  For  it  would  be  as  wife  to  expect  corn 
from  tares,  or  figs  from  thirties,  as  that  a  fooiilh  ignorant 
woman  mould  be  a  good  mother. 

SECT.     VI. 

IT  is  not  neceflary  to  inform  the  fagacious  reader,  now 
I  enter  on  my  concluding  reflections,  that  the  difcufiion 
of  this  fubject  merely  confiils  in  opening  a  few  fimple 
principles,  and  clearing  away  the  rnbbifli  which  obfcured 
them.  But,  as  all  readers  are  not  fagacious,  I  rnurt  be 
allowed  to  add  fome  explanatory  remarks  to  bring  the 
fubject  home  to  reafpn — to  that  fluggifh  reafcn,  which 
fupinely  takes  opinions  on  trull,  and  obftinately  fupports 
them  to  fpare  itfelf  the  labour  of  thinking. 
Ff  2 


330  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

Moralifts  have  unanimoufly  agreed,  that  unlefs  virtue 
be  nurfed  by  liberty,  it  \vill  never  attain  due  ftrength-*- 
and  what  they  fay  of  man  I  extend  to  mankind,  infifting, 
that  in  all  cafes  morals  muft  be  fixed  on  immutable  prin 
ciples  ;  and  that  the  being  cannot  be  termed  rational  or 
virtuous,  who  obeys  any  authority  but  that  of  reafon. 

To  render  women  truly  ufeful  members  of  fociety, 
I  argue,  that  they  mould  be  led,  by  having  their  under- 
ftandings  cultivated  on  a  large  fcale,  to  acquire  a  ra 
tional  affection  for  their  country,  founded  on  know 
ledge,  becaufe  it  is  obvious,  that  we  are  little  interefted 
about  what  we  do  not  underftand.  And  to  render  this 
general  knowledge  of  due  importance,  I  have  endea 
voured  to  mow,  that  private  duties  are  never  properly 
fulfilled,  unlefs  the  underflanding  enlarges  the  heart; 
and  that  public  virtue  is  only  an  aggregate  of  private. 
But,  the  diftinctions  eftablilhed  in  fociety  undermine 
both,  by  beating  out  the  folid  gold  of  virtue,  till  it 
becomes  only  the  tinfel-covering  of  vice ;  for,  whilfl 
v;ealth  renders  a  man  more  refpe&able  than  virtue, 
wealth  will  be  fought  before  virtue ;  and,  whilft  wo 
men's  perfons  are  carefTed,  when  a  childifh  fimper 
Itows  an  abfence  of  mind — the  mind  will  lie  fallow. 
Yet,  true  voluptuoufnefs  muft  proceed  from  the  mind — 
for  what  can  equal  the  fenfations  produced  by  mutual 
affefticn,  fupported  by  mutual  refpeft  ?  What  are  the 
«old  or  feveridi  careffes  of  appetite,  but  fin  embracing 
5eath,  compared  with  the  modefl  overflowings  of  a 
pure  heart  and  exalted  imagination  ?  Yes,  let  me  tell 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  331 

the  libertine  of  fancy,  when  he  dcfpifes  underftanding 
in  woman—that  the  mind,  which  he  difregards,  gives 
life  to  the  enthufiaftic  affe&ion  from  which  rapture, 
fhort-lived  as  it  is,  alone  can,  flow  !  And  that,  without 
virtue,  a  fexual  attachment  muft  expire,  like  a  tallow- 
candle  in  the  focket,  creating  intolerable  difguft.  To 
prove  this,  I  need  only  obferve,  that  men  who  have 
wafted  great  part  of  their  lives  with  women,  and  with 
whom  they  have  fought  for  pleafure  with  e<iger  thirft, 
entertain  the  meaneft  opinion  of  the  fex. —  Virtue,  true 
refiner  of  joy ! — if  foolifh  men  were  to  fright  thee 
from  earth,  in  order  to  give  loofe  to  all  their  appetites 
without  a  check — fome  fenfual'  wight  of  taile  would 
fcale  the  heavens  to  invite  thee  back,  to  give  a  zefl 
to  pleafure  ! 

That  women  at  prefent  are  by  ignorance  rendered 
foolifli  or  vicious,  is,  I  think,  not  to  be  difputed;  and 
that  the  moft  falutary  effects  tending  to  improve  man 
kind,  might  be  expected  from  a  resolution  in  female 
manners,  appears  at  leaft,  with  a  face  of  probability, 
to  rife  out  of -the  obfervation.  For  as  marriage  has 
been  termed  the  parent  of  thofe  endearing  charities, 
which  draw  man  from  the  brutal  herd,  the  corrupting 
intercourse  that  wealth,  idlenefs,  and  folly  produce 
between  the  fexes,  is  more  univerfally  injurious  to 
morality,  than  all  the  other  vices  of  mankind  collec 
tively  confidered.  To  adulterous  luft  the  moft  facred 
duties  are  facrificed,  becaufe,  before  marriage,  men, 
by  a  promifcuous  intimacy  with  women,  learned  to 
Ff  3 


332  VINDICATION    OF    THJT 

coniider  love  as  a  felfiih  gratification — learned  to  feps- 
rate  it  not  only  from  eileem,  but  from  the  affection 
merely  built  on  habit,  which  mixes  a  little  humanity 
with  it.  Juftice  and  friendlhip  are  alfo  fet  at  defiance, 
and  that  purity  of  tafte  is  vitiated,  which  would  natu 
rally  lead  a  man  to  relifh  an  artlefs  difplay  of  affection, 
rather  than  affected  airs.  But  that  noble  fimplicity  of 
affeftion,  which  dares  to  appear  unadorned,  has  few 
attractions  for  the  libertine,  though  it  be  the  charm, 
which,  by  cementing  the  matrimonial  tie,  fecures  to 
the  pledges  of  a  warmer  paffion  the  neceiTary  parental 
attention ;  for  children  will  never  be  properly  edu 
cated  till  friendship  fubfifts  between  parents.  Virtue 
flies  from  a  houfe  divided  againft  itfelf — and  a  whole 
legion  of  devils  take  up  their  refidence  there. 

.The  affection  of  hufbancls  and  wives  cannot  be  pure 
when  they  have  fo  few  fentiments  in  common,  and 
when  fo  little  confidence  is  eftabliihed  at  home,  as  muil 
be  the  cafe  when  their  purfuits  are  fo  different.  That 
intimacy  from  which  tendernefs  fliould  flow,  will  not, 
cannot  fubfnl  between  the  vicious. 

Contending,  therefore,  that  the  fexual  diftinction> 
which  men  have  fo  warmly  infifted  upon,  is  arbitrary, 
J  have  dwelt  on  an  obfervation,  that  feveral  fenfible 
men,  with  whom  I  have  converfed  on  the  fubject> 
allowed  to  be  well  founded ;  and  it  is  fimply  this,  that 
the  little  chaftity  to  be  found  amongft  men,  and  con*- 
fequent  difregard  of  modefly,  tend  to  degrade  both 
fexes ;  and  further,  that  the  modefly  of  women,  cha- 


RIGHTS    OF   WOMAN.  333 

fa&erized  as  fuch,  will  often  be  only  the  artful  veil  of 
wantonnefs,  inftead  of  being  the  natural  reflection  of 
purity,  till  modeily  be  univerfaily  refpecled. 

From  the  tyranny  of  man,  I  firmly  believe,  the 
greater  number  of  female  follies  proceeds;  and  the 
cunning,  which,  I  allow,  makes  at  prefent  a  part  of 
their  character,  I  likewife  have  repeatedly  endeavoured 
to  prove,  is  produced  by  oppreffion. 

Were  not  diilenters,  for  inltance,  a  clafs  of  people, 
with  Uriel:  truth  characterized  as  cunning?  And  may  I 
not  lay  fome  ilrefs  on  this  fact  to  prove,  that  when  any 
power  but  reafon  curbs  the  free  fpirit  of  man,  diffimu- 
lation  is  praclifed,  and  the  various  fhifts  of  art  are  na 
turally  called  forth?  Great  attention  to  decorum, 
which  was  carried  to-  a  degree  of  fcrupulonty,  and  all 
that  puerile  bullle  about  trifles  and  confequential  fo- 
lemnity,  which  Butler's  caricature  of  a  difTenter  brings 
before,  the  imagination,  fhaped  tiieir  perfons  as  well  as 
their  minds  in  the  mould  of  prim  littlenefs.  1  {peak 
collectively,  for  I  know  how  many  ornaments  to  human 
nature  have  been  enrolled  amongfl  feclaries ;  yet,  I  afiert, 
that  the  fame  narrow  prejudice  for  their  feel,  which 
women  have  for  their  families,  prevailed  in  the  difient- 
ing  part  of  the  community,  however  worthy  in  other 
refpecls ;  and  alfo  that  the  fame  timid  prudence,  or 
lieaditrong  efforts,  often  difgraced  the  exertions  of 
both.  Oppreffion  thus  formed  many  of  the  features  of 
their  character  perfectly  to  coincide  with  that  of  the 
opprefled  half  of  mankind ;  for  is  it  not  notorious, 


334  VINDICATION    OF    THE 

that  dilTenters  were,  like  women,  fond  of  deliberating 
together,  and  afking  advice  of  each  other,  till,  by  a 
complication  of  little  contrivances,  fome  little  end  was 
brought  about  ?  A  fimilar  attention  to  preferve  their 
reputation  was  confpicuous  in  the  diffenting  and  female 
world,  and  was  produced  by  a  fimilar  cauie. 

Afferting  the  rights  which  women  in  common  with 
men  ought  to  contend  for,  1  have  not  attempted  to  ex 
tenuate  their  faults ;  but  to  prove  them  to  be  the  na 
tural  confequence  of  their  education  and  ftation  in  fo- 
ciety.  If  fo,  it  is  reafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  they  will 
change  their  character,  and  correct  their  vices  and  fol 
lies,  when  they  are  allowed  to  be  free  in  a  phyfical, 
moral,  and  civil  fenfe.* 

Let  woman  {hare  the  rights,  and  me  will  emulate  the 
virtues  of  man  ;  for  fhe  muil  grow  more  perfect  when 
emancipated,  or  juilify  the  authority  that  chains  fuch  a 
weak  being  to  her  duty.  If  the  latter,  it  will  be  expe 
dient  to  open  a  frefli  trade  with  Ruffia  Tor  whips  ;  a 
prefent  which  a  father  mould  always  make  to  his  fon- 
in-law  on  his  wedding  day,  that  a  hulband  may  keep  his 
whole  family  in  order  by  the  fame  means;  and  without 
any  violation  of  juftice  reign,  wielding  his  fceptre,  fole 
mailer  of  his  houfe,  becaufc  he  is  the  only  being  in  it 
who  has  reafon ;  the  divine,  indefeafible,  earthly  fove- 
reignty  breathed  into  man  by  the  Matter  of  the  Uni- 

*  I  had  further  enlarged  on  the  advantages  •vjhich  might  ra:J'ial>Iy 
Le  expeflet!  to  refult  from  an  improvement  in  female  manners  towards 
the  general  reformation  of  Jpcisty  ;  but  it  appeared  to  me  that  fufh  rejisf- 
tions  "would  more  properly  clofe  the  laji 


RIGHTS    OF    WOMAN.  335 

verfe.  Allowing  this  pofition,  women  have  not  any 
inherent  rights  to  clairif,  and  by  the  fame  rule  their  du 
ties  vanifh,  for  rights  and  duties  are  infeparable. 

Be  juft  then,  O  ye  men  of  underflanding  !  and  mark 
not  more  feverely  what  women  do  amifs  than  the  vicious 
tricks  of  the  horfe  or  the  afs  for  whom  ye  provide  pro 
vender,  and  allow  her  the  privileges  of  ignorance,  to 
whom  ye  deny  the  rights  of  reafon,  or  ye  will  be  worfe 
than  Egyptian  talk-matters,  expecting  virtue  where 
nature  has  not  given  understanding  ! 


THE    END. 


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